KHYBER
In 2024 out of 214 First Information Reports (FIRs) only two have been filed by the local women posing lack of awareness among the tribal womenfolk to seek justice against injustice done to them and to win their basic rights,women’s rights activists said.
As per details, provided by the senior police official in the police station, Landi Kotal stated that in the last year only two local female residents had lodged FIRs in the police station.
In the first one, a local woman of Neki Khel, a sub-tribe of Zakha Khel, had filed an FIR against domestic violence.
In the same way another female tribal had lodged an FIR, seeking justice for her murderer husband.
The police official added that due to man dominated society, the women are reluctant to appear in person in front of police officials in the police station.
On behalf of them, their male relatives used to file their complaints, he maintained.
An additional Station House Officer (female) Miss Mehak Pervaiz Maseeh was asked to comment on the matter and she said that in tribal society, women hesitate to come to the police station.
In short of female staff in the police station, local women did not want to share their miseries with stranger male police personnel but despite the fact 22 various types of women complaints had been filed last year.
She added that if a separate office and female staff is provided to the Additional female additional SHO, women folk will be encouraged to approach her office for seeking justice.
A local female journalist, Jamaima Afridi said that unfamiliarity with the prevailing justice system and lack of awareness among the tribal women were the main reasons that compels the local female to file complaints against wrong done to them.
A women’s disk should be set up in police stations to facilitate the female applicants besides the womenfolk should be aware of the mechanism and guidance should be placed to make possible for them to get speedy justice, she suggested.
She maintained that lodging complaint procedure for the tribal women should be simple and easy to avoid their repeated visit to the police station and men should be conscious of the legal consequences of the injustice he finds involved against women.
When Maryum Bibi, head of Khwendo Kor, (female rights activist organization) was contacted on the matter she said that besides lack of basic facilities in the merged tribal region, no opportunities were existing for the womenfolk to get education, therefore they were ignorant of their rights.
Although the placed atmosphere was unsupportive, organizations like the women rights organization human rights department and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ombudsman were available to shield the women from any offense and to ensure their basic rights.
As per available information the overall literacy rate of district Khyber is 49.4% while female education rate is 17%.
In census reports, a total of tehsil Landi Kotal population is 312313, comprising male population is 163167 and female inhabitants are 149145.
