Federal Ombudsperson Fauzia Viqar met with senior police officials in Multan to highlight the urgent need for strengthening protections for women prisoners and promoting greater accountability against harassment within police and correctional facilities.
Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment (FOSPAH), Ms. Fauzia Viqar, held a comprehensive meeting with the Additional Inspector General of Police for South Punjab, Mr. Muhammad Kamran Khan, in Multan. The meeting aimed to discuss critical measures necessary to ensure a safer and more respectful environment for women prisoners and women within the police system.
The gathering was attended by prominent senior law enforcement officials for the region, including City Police Officer Multan, Mr. Sadiq Ali Dogar, as well as Superintendent of Multan Women’s Jail, Ms. Fareeha Ashraf. The parties involved deliberated extensively upon the pressing issues faced by female inmates, focusing primarily on safeguarding their fundamental rights, dignity, and overall welfare while in custody.
During the meeting, Ms. Viqar drew attention to the core mandate of FOSPAH, specifically highlighting provisions for protecting women against harassment. She underscored the necessity of institutional accountability and reinforced the importance of establishing gender-responsive policies within police and correctional institutions. Such policies, she stated, are critical to ensuring adherence to harassment prevention laws and, ultimately, maintaining women’s safety and human rights.
Ms. Viqar further reiterated that only through sustained collaborative efforts and stringent accountability measures can discourse around harassment and violation of rights effectively be addressed and prevented, thus fostering an environment of respect, dignity, and protection for all women.
The Federal Ombudsperson’s office continues its advocacy campaigns focused on raising awareness and turning zero-tolerance against harassment into practical reality, echoed strongly through efforts encapsulated in hashtags: #SayNoToHarassment, #NoExcuse, #AccelerateAction, #StandUpSpeakOut, and #FOSPAH.
