Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) female activists and supporters, arrested amidst the unrest following the detainment of party chairman Imran Khan, dismissed the allegations of mistreatment and sexual harassment during their imprisonment on Friday.
Following Khan’s arrest, widespread protests led to a significant security force crackdown on the PTI party, which had allegedly attacked civilian and military institutions. This wave of arrests, including thousands of PTI members and supporters, encompassed numerous women.
Khan had previously alleged that these female supporters were subject to harassment and molestation while in custody, prompting him to seek intervention from the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Umar Ata Bandial.
However, in court today, these women confirmed they had not been subjected to such treatment in prison, although they deemed their detainment unjustified, as they claimed to have committed no wrongdoing.
An arrestee commented, “The greatest insult was that women were taken from their homes during the night. Women shouldn’t be exposed to such situations.”
On May 30, a two-person government committee dismissed PTI’s allegations concerning the mistreatment and sexual harassment of women in Punjab jails.
SSP Investigations Lahore Anoosh Masood and Deputy Commissioner Lahore Rafia Haider vehemently denied the allegations made by the PTI, labeling them as fabrications.
Masood assured journalists outside the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore that a specialist and a gynecologist were available in prison, the facility had a library, and all needs, including clean bedding and clothing, were provided for the women.
Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi established the committee to examine PTI’s claims of female supporter mistreatment in jails following the May 9 riots. Initially stating that women were treated legally, Naqvi has now established a committee to scrutinize the issue.
