The initiative taken by Islamabad police to establish women complaint cells in the city is a progress towards the right direction: making the police force more gender responsive.
Although it is an excellent initiative, the prerequisite for this to actually be successfully implemented is through the development of trust in the public regarding the department of police. As long as a trust deficit exists between the police and the citizens, the police will not be approached for assistance.
In the prevalent scenario, many crimes remain unreported, especially crimes against women because the citizens do not have necessary confidence in police and the legal system.
HASSAN BASHIR
Islamabad
