Women will now be able to lodge harassment complaints from the safety of their homes whilst protecting their identities after the police in Rawalpindi set up a separate Harassment Reporting Unit (HRU).
This is the first time in the history of the country that a separate unit has been established to address harassment complaints.
The HRU will help victims who have been harassed in homes, markets, offices, public transport, and educational institutions school, college in taking the legal course by just remaining sitting at home.
A Rawalpindi police official, while requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, told The Express Tribune that the unit is equipped with the latest mobile phone technology to facilitate reporting of offences on call or via WhatsApp.
As a result, women can now choose whether to go to the police station or not or appear before a male investigating officer (IO).
Officials explained that as soon as the unit receives a complaint, female ASIs, or female SIs will visit the victim’s home, office, school, college, or university and file a first information report (FIR) after a written complaint. If the victim does not want to disclose her identity in the FIR, the police will register a case on behalf of the state and launch an investigation.
The unit will be headed by Cantt ASP Amna Baig whose first office has been set up at the Women’s Police Station.
If the experiment goes successful, an HRU will be set up in each division which will be fully independent.
The police officer also said that the Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Ahsan Younus believes in a zero-tolerance policy in cases of violence, abuse, and harassment against women.
Earlier in the year, the Rawalpindi police had set up a dedicated reporting desk to tackle all issues relating to people who are transgender.
A transgender woman police officer has been appointed victim support officer to facilitate complainants from the marginalised community.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2020.
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