‘Unruly’ women face legal action
SCREENGRAB
A case has been registered at the Kallar Kahar police station against two female motorists who ‘disrupted traffic’ on the motorway and ‘verbally abused police personnel’ after being stopped for ‘speeding’ and ‘reckless driving’ near Kallar Kahar. The police have initiated a search for the accused.
According to a spokesperson for the motorway police, the case was registered on the complaint of Motor Police Inspector Samiur Rehman under relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. These include section 506 for hurling threats, section 431 for causing traffic disruption, as well as sections related to speeding, negligence, and complicity.
Inspector Samiur Rehman explained that he was on duty with the speed checking squad at Kallar Kahar Salt Range when a vehicle (No ATW 249) was observed speeding erratically, well beyond the prescribed limit of 40 kmph. When signalled to stop, the driver parked the vehicle in a hazardous manner, obstructing traffic flow.
Upon confrontation, the driver accused the officers of targeting women unnecessarily. Despite requests to move the vehicle and present necessary documents, the driver refused, accompanied by a passenger who began recording and threatening the officers using inappropriate language. The duo then fled the scene after making baseless allegations of bribery against the police.
Legal proceedings have been initiated against the women, with the Kallar Kahar police station registering a case and launching efforts to locate them.
This incident gained attention after a video of the altercation surfaced on social media, capturing the exchange between the women and the police officers. The video also depicts the women's claims and the subsequent actions taken by the police.
This marks the second recent incident involving women clashing with motorway police.
The online response to these incidents has been mixed, with some condemning the women's behaviour while others highlight the need for improved conduct from law enforcement personnel.
Published in The Express Tribune May 3rd, 2024.