Pakpattan gets its first female SHO

Kulsoom Fatima was previously serving as an SI at Saddar police station

MULTAN: For the first time ever, a female police official has been appointed as a station house officer (SHO) at Model police station Daloryam in Pakpattan district. This is the first appointment of its kind in the district.

Previously, Kulsoom Fatima was serving as an SI at Saddar police station in Pakpattan. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Pakpattan District Police Officer Ibadat Nisar stated that female officials in the police department are as capable and talented as their male counterparts.

“Appointing female officers will help in ensuring speedy justice and eliminating crime,” he said. He revealed that the ratio of women involved in criminal activities is higher in Pakpattan as compared to other districts in South Punjab.

Therefore, female officials are better suited to interrogate and investigate crimes, he added. The DPO said that appointing a female SHO would encourage and inspire other women officials.

The newly appointed Fatima expressed that she is determined to fulfil the duties that have been assigned to her. “There are widespread misconceptions that female officers are not promoted and ranks higher than ASI and SI are dominated by men,” she said. My appointment is evidence to the contrary, she said.

She said that the Pakpattan DPO had set a precedent by encouraging female officials to move forward. This will pave the way for more such appointments, she said.

On the other hand, locals were apprehensive about the appointment. They stated that a female SHO cannot deal with crime and the responsibilities associated with an under developed district such as Pakpattan.

However, they added that they have high hopes and expectations of Fatima as she has achieved this post on merit. They maintained that they will extend their full cooperation to eliminate crime from society.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2019.