Keep your distance: Notices issued over harassment of female teacher

Petitioner argues LEAs raided her house on January 25, misbehaved, searched her house without showing a warrant.

KARACHI: Notices have been issued to the chiefs of the law enforcement and intelligence agencies on the petition of a private university’s teacher, Dr Sadia Jaleel, who accused them of harassment.

Jaleel had taken the federal interior secretary, provincial home secretary, director-general of the Inter-Services intelligence, intelligence bureau, military intelligence and Sindh police inspector-general to the court. Her lawyer, Syed Abdul Waheed, told the judges that Dr Jaleel is a senior health expert and maintains a distinguished place in the field.

In her plea, the petitioner submitted that the personnel belonging to the law enforcement agencies raided her house on January 25, misbehaved with her and searched the entire house without showing any search warrant. “They also took away the petitioner’s belongings, including a licensed weapon, her academic certificates, gold, books and other important documents,” Advocate Waheed alleged, adding that they also threatened her of dire consequences if she informed anyone about the raid.

The lawyer argued that such attitude on part of the law enforcers is a violation of the fundamental rights of the petitioner and while she has moved several applications to the higher authorities, they have not paid heed to this issue so far.

Justice Ghulam Sarwar Korai, who headed the bench, issued notices to the respondents to file their comments by March 18.