Benazir Income Support Programme: Women beaten by BISP workers for demanding money

"The government shouldn’t make such high claims about helping us out if they can’t deliver," protester Naseem Bibi.

MULTAN:

Several local women were recently attacked by Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) workers in Shujabaad, after they tried to claim the money they were owed.

According to Shujabaad residents, over a dozen women were severely beaten by BISP workers on Thursday, after they flocked to the BISP centre demanding they be paid the remaining amount of their funds.

“We have been coming here for over a month but they keep stalling the payment. Some of us haven’t even received the first installments on our listed cards and now they hit us with sticks,” said protester Shaista Aslam.

Locals said that they saw the BISP workers beat up the women with sticks. “The women were protesting outside the BISP offices for the funds they were owed. I have seen them come here every other day and suddenly several office workers began beating them away with sticks,” said Shujabaad resident Kaleem Saeed.

“Many of the women fainted and were taken to the hospital with severe head injuries,” he said.

The incident occurred at the main franchise of the Azeem National Data Registration Authority (Nadra) kiosk of the BISP on Thursday morning. “The women also came yesterday (Wednesday) and there was a bit of a tussle between the BISP workers but they left quietly. The next day it all escalated,” said Nadra worker Saleem.

“We have been protesting for our right.

The government shouldn’t make such high handed claims about helping us out with the money if they can’t deliver,” said protester Naseem Bibi, adding “I have spent months trying to get my installment of Rs10,000 but every time I come here they turn me away. This time, they beat me and now I am in the hospital,” she added.

Shujaabad DHQ Hospital officials, said that they had seen dozens of patients come in since Wednesday. “There was a minor scuffle on Wednesday and several women came in with minor wounds but on Thursday we treated women with major head injuries,” said nurse Faiza.

“I have treated women with head injuries and a couple with broken arms.

These women were obviously mishandled and the authorities need to take notice,” said Dr Islam Raza.

Locals protested outside the Cantt police station for several hours on Friday and demanded that the police register a case against the BISP officials.

“We demand that police take action against these men but so far they haven’t even bothered to file the case,” said Naseem Bibi.

The Cantt SHO said that the police were conducting an investigation into the incident and would take action accordingly.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2011.