In Pakistan, there is a limited trend of women joining the police department. There are several hurdles for women whenever they want to join the police professionally. Women comprise 50 percent of our population and can help the police workforce become better and more representative. Female representation is very little as compared to their population in the country. The educated women of Pakistan could be an asset for this department and can play an active role in uplifting society. The police department in Pakistan is dominated by males with little participation by women.
Violence against women is not reported in police stations as they are discouraged to report it due to fear and shame; thus, violence against women goes unnoticed. Women do not feel free to share their problems with the males. The laws that are formulated for the women are not in practice and most of the women do not know about these laws.
Presence of women in police department will help in highlighting the problems faced by women in the society such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence etc. Women police workers can be properly utilised in community policing. We have to motivate the educated women to join the police and convince society to accept women in the security sector as protectors of law.
The job quota in police department for women has been increased from five percent to 15 percent which is a positive sign. Bringing a real change in policing practices is not possible without achieving a gender balance in police.
MUHAMMAD UZAIR NIAZI
Mianwali
