Women integral part of every society: Temuri

Islamabad: Women police and commandoes showed their might and capacity besides sharing the challenges they face at a special event organised to celebrate the courage of Islamabad Women Police on the occasion of International Women’s Day on Thursday.

The event which started with an impressive parade of women police from different departments, featured documentaries, skits, songs, inspirational speeches and distribution of awards for extraordinary performance.

Through small skits, where women police officers acted as both men and women, they skilfully highlighted the challenges women police face while performing their duties due to stereotypical mindset within and outside the police department.

“The hands that hold guns during the day, hold tongs and rolling pins at night,” said one police commando in a documentary. “There is no difference between men and women when we are training,” says another woman police official.

Speaking on this occasion, Inspector General of Islamabad Dr Sultan Azam Temuri said that women are an integral part of every society and no country can achieve its development goals without participation of women.

“Women have a very diversified role in our societies. She is a mother, a sister, a housewife, a professional and a police officer. She performs all these roles through her sheer determination. And let me tell you that there is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise.”

He said that according to UN standards, there must be 20 per cent women out of total police strength of a country. “Pakistan needs to do a lot in this domain because it has only 0.89 per cent. In Islamabad police women are 2.5 per cent of total police force. Largest numbers are in operations and they are performing all the duties that their male colleagues perform.”

He said that Islamabad police has taken various initiatives for betterment of women in police. “Women police stations were established in 1994 where all the staff from constable to SHO comprises women. They conduct all the investigations and other tasks relating to any case all by themselves,” he added.

There is separate hostel for women police officers in police lines with suitable and satisfactory facilities. Transport facility, he said, is also provided to women police officers so that they easily reach their desired destination points. The IGP said that a gym has also been constructed inside police lines to take care of their physical fitness. He said that women police officers are provided equal opportunities for promotion and no gender based bias is ever observed in such cases.

“There is an action plan committee which is chaired by DIG HQ to immediately resolve any issue faced by women police officers and have their perspective on policing matters and better understand the needs of women and anti-sexual harassment committee to take care of matters related to harassment at work place,” he said.

He said that women police network comprising women police officers of ICTP, Punjab, KP, GB, Sindh, Baluchistan, AJK, FIA, Motorways and Railways inspires women to collectively think and act. “Women police councils are established under women police network in provinces and districts to enhance their role and recognition within the organization,” he further added.

He said that Islamabad police is striving to increase the percentage of women from 2.5 per cent to 20 per cent while adding that they have conducted various campaigns to advertise recruitment of female police officers.

“Today we have women in operations, counter terrorism force, anti-terrorist squad, special branch, FIA. Islamabad police is also encouraging recruitment of daughters of police martyrs on Shuhada quota.”

DIG (Security) Waqar Ahmed Chohan, DIG Helena Iqbal Saeed, diplomats, women police employees from Islamabad police, Punjab police, motorway police, media representatives and others were also present on the occasion.

DIG Helena Iqbal Saeed said that women are important segment of society and progress of the country is not possible without their contribution. She said that every day shall be the women’s day. She asked the participants to give standing ovation to all those women who come out of their homes to contribute in the work force. She urged the government to ensure implementation of 10 per cent quota, revision of recruitment policy, increased induction and conducive environment to bring the real change.

Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Director Gregory Schiffer said that role of women is critical in sustainable development of the country. He said that without women, no department can be true representative of a country.

Later, lady police officials were also awarded shields for showing good performance and their contribution to win success for the force. Those who received awards included DIG Helena Saeed, SP Sumera Azam, SP Arsala Saleem, ASP Ayesha Gul, ASI Farzana Begum, ASI Shakeela Alam, Head Constable Fauzia Hanif, Head Constable Zahida Barkat and special awards for Ayesha Javed and Samina Sarwar. At the end, women police presented an award to IG Dr Sultan Azam Temuri for his support to women police.