The dire situation of the police force has made the access to justice for women very difficult. There is non-availability of separate lockups for women in police stations and there are also very few women police stations in the country. The representation of women in police is less than five percent of the entire force.
he law also provides for the special treatment of women as they cannot be arrested between sunset and sunrise while for special reasons permission must be taken from magistrate. But as per the reported incidents, these procedures are not only ignored but even gross violations of rights are carried out by the police.
YASIR HAMEED
Islamabad
