May 9 riots accused women ‘not mistreated’

'Loopholes' found in system, concedes NCHR Chairperson

ISLAMABAD:

The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has said that they did not find any evidence that the incarcerated women accused of May 9 riots were mistreated, tortured or sexually assaulted. “However, some loopholes have been found in the procedures adopted in the jails and the arrests made,” NCHR Chairperson Rabiya Agha said during a meeting at the Ministry of Human Rights.

She did not share any details about them.

Several PTI stalwarts, including women leaders, were arrested after rioters allegedly belonging to the former ruling party ransacked government structure and military installations following the arrest of party Chairman Imran Khan in a graft case on May 9.

Last month, many women leaders and workers of the PTI complained that they were being oppressed and not allowed to meet their family members.

The meeting was chaired by Federal Minister for Human Rights Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada and attended by senior officials of jails, home department, Islamabad police, human rights ministry and federal and provincial governments.

The chairpersons of NCHR and National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) also participated in the huddle.

Pirzada welcomed the participants, underscoring the steps taken by the human rights ministry to protect and promote the rights of prisoners across the country, including effective coordination as well as training, sensitisation and capacity building of prison authorities.