Seeking salvation: Support rejected - Mother of three has nowhere to go

Cash-starved women centre is unable to give shelter to victims of violence.

ISLAMABAD: Incidences of human rights abuses and violence against women across the country do not just remain unreported but are also downright refused. The Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women Centre in H-8 on Sunday denied assistance to a woman seeking protection from her husband threatening to take her life.

Samina Bibi, who is now a mother of three, got into a traditional vatta satta marriage with Muhammad Ali. Ali’s sister was married to Samina’s brother in return. Life got difficult for the woman after Samina’s brother divorced his wife (Ali’s sister). Ever since, Ali has been furious with Samina for a ‘sin’ committed by her brother.

Previously living in Gujranwala, Samina said she came to Islamabad hoping of salvation but the women centre refused to provide her even with accommodation.

“I have been here for almost a month. I have no money and no place to stay. The only money I had was stolen from me by a rickshaw driver. I am scared for my life and the life of my children,” Samina said, as she struggled to speak in Urdu.

Established in 2004, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women Centre serves to provide protection and legal assistance to victims of domestic violence and social injustice. However, officials said that the centre has been non-operational since it was transferred to the Ministry of Human Rights. Before the devolution, the centre operated under Ministry of Women Development.

When contacted, the women centre’s supervisor, Sajida said, “It is difficult to refuse women that approach the centre but we have no other option.”

She said the centre is cash-starved to the extent that they do not even have the funds to pay for its utilities. “Let alone salaries we can’t even pay for our employees’ food. We are without electricity for last the one month,” she added.

A lawyer stated on the condition of anonymity that over 12 lawyers affiliated with the centre have not been paid for over six months, adding they have since received 25 cases of violence against women which have not been taken up.

Prime Minister’s advisor on Human Rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that due to unavailability of funds it is impossible keep the centre running. He said he has requested the finance ministry to release funds for the centre, and now “the ball is in their court”.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st,  2011.