Lahore police bar women from stations after sunset
Lahore Police have directed that no woman should remain at any police station after sunset, introducing a new measure that officials say is aimed at ensuring the safety and dignity of women.
The directive was issued by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Muhammad Faisal Kamran during a crime review meeting with officers of the City Division. He instructed police personnel to treat women with respect and ensure that female complainants as well as women taken into custody are not kept at police stations after Maghrib.
According to the directive, police officers must adopt procedures that protect women’s privacy and dignity while dealing with complaints or investigations.
The decision comes in the wake of growing concerns over crimes against women and follows the arrest of a Lahore police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman with a mental health condition.
According to police, the woman had left her home and did not return for several hours. Her family later learned from a local resident that a plain-clothes police officer had taken her away on a motorcycle. The victim later alleged that the officer took her to another location and sexually assaulted her.
Following the allegations, police registered a case against the accused officer. DIG Investigation Syed Zeeshan Raza ordered an immediate and transparent investigation, directing investigators to proceed strictly on merit.
The incident also led to disciplinary action within the police department, with 78 police officials reportedly suspended as authorities launched an internal review of the case.
While police officials say the new directive is intended to safeguard women, some critics argue that restricting women’s presence at police stations does not address the root problem. They contend that law enforcement agencies should instead focus on ensuring police stations remain safe and accessible for women at all hours.
