Female K-P cop helps widow reclaim encroached land

In a remarkable display of dedication and commitment, the efforts of a female police officer in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province helped in reclaiming a widow's rightfully-owned plot in Mansehra.

ASP Nayab Ramzan’s resolute efforts have not only challenged the land mafia in the area but also spotlighted the significance of women police officers in addressing women's issues.

Despite resistance, Nayab stood firm alongside the widow, ultimately ensuring that the plot was restored to her possession, garnering well-deserved praise on social media platforms.

The plot, given to the widow, Naheed Akhtar, as “Haq-e-Mahr” by her late husband, had been occupied for three years, with repeated complaints to the police yielding little result as opponents resorted to violence.

The efforts of the police force from Shinkiari, in collaboration with Tehsildar and the district’s Patwari, under the court's orders, successfully handed over the land to the deserving woman.

Read more: 30 years and counting: Couple struggles to get its land back despite court’s favour

Talking to The Express Tribune, ASP Nayab emphasised the effectiveness of women police officers in resolving women's issues, and she underlined the importance of women joining the police service.

District Police Officer Zahoor Babar Afridi commended the ongoing campaign against land grabbers in Mansehra, saying that numerous pending cases have been resolved so far, leading to the arrest of dozens of accused individuals.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas, women frequently face inheritance-related challenges after the passing of their husbands. Speaking on the matter, K-P Ombudsperson Rukhshanda Naz revealed that a significant number of inheritance issues are reported in Malakand, Hazara, and the merged tribal districts, mainly attributed to the absence of revenue records.

Since 2019, she said that 1,349 complaints related to property and inheritance have been registered, with 82 cases forwarded to the courts and 20 cases successfully resolved through negotiations. However, 905 cases remain pending.

Naz explained that although they don't directly resolve inheritance disputes, they forward the requests to the relevant deputy commissioner's office, which further engages the police and other departments.

She further said that with the passage of time, women have learnt to raise their voices for their rights, women used to think a hundred times before filing such complaints previously.