SP transferred for ‘sexually abusing’ staff

The Railways Police official allegedly harassed female constables.

RAWALPINDI:

The Inspector General of Pakistan Railway (IG PR) Police has sent a superintendent of police (SP) on a forced leave after some lady constables alleged that the SP had sexually abused and harassed them, official sources said.

The IG PR police sent SP Javaid Khan on a forced leave after a departmental inquiry established that 24 lady constables posted in Rawalpindi were “discontent” with Khan, alleging that he had sexually harassed and abused them.

Ulfat Hussan was posted in Khan’s place, sources said. The orders were issued after the inquiry officer, Mubashar Butt, confirmed that the lady constables in their interviews had alleged that SP Khan used to call them at his residence at Adiala Road.

According to the report, the SP would ask them to come to his house on the pretext of choosing six lady constables for a commando course. The SP allegedly lured the constables saying they would get increments and promotion after the completion of the course, saying that he had been tasked with the selection of the candidates. The report said that the SP would call the constables at his residence one by one and sexually assault them.

The lady constables kept mum for their honour and the fear of losing their jobs. Later, they secretly complained to the higher authorities against the immoral attitude of the SP, which prompted the inquiry and the subsequent action.

SP Khan was not immediately available for a comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2011.