Sept 15, 2021: Lahore police on Tuesday inaugurated its first “harassment and violence cell against women”.

It has been set up at Lahore Defense Area (B) Police Station. Following the Minar Pakistan Mob Harassment Case, the then IGP Inam Ghani had issued orders to all field officers to set up anti-harassment cells across the province and listen to the problems of women victims and the affected support officers to resolve them. 

Lahore’s Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mahmood Dogar inaugurated the special cell on Tuesday in presence of senior police officers including DIG Operations Sohail Chaudhary, CTO Muntazir Mehdi, SSP Operations Waqar Shoaib Qureshi, SP Headquarters Imran Ahmad Malik, SP Dolphin Squad Rashid Hayat, SP Cantt Sayyed, others and media persons.

Dogar also visited different parts of the new opening cell of PS Defense Area (B) on the same day and inspected the facilities provided at different desks. The special cell established in Lahore consists of four desks namely Monitoring Desk, Victim Feedback and Assistance Desk, Victim Support Desk as well as Investigation and Prosecution Desk.

The first of its kind Monitoring Desk in Lahore will be responsible for tracing the historical record of suspects involved in sexual assault and harassment cases. Dogar said that like the fourth schedulers, they would be asked to report to sales regularly.

The special cell set up in Lahore will also identify hotspots for sexual violence and harassment using the crime mapping system and the Women Safety app. Victims’ feedback and help desks will be responsible for providing guidance and assistance to victims when Assistant Helplines or in person are requested.

As soon as the FIR is registered, the affected support desk will be responsible for assigning the affected support officer to each victim. It will also oversee the work of women’s help counters at police stations.