Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Women face many problems while commuting in public transport in the provincial capital, revealed a survey of Daily Times on Wednesday. Women are seen standing at bus stops along with children in scorching heat to catch up public transport vehicles. Kalsoom, 22, is one among them waiting to find a seat on public transport. Kalsoom, a resident of Mardan, studies at Gender Studies Department, University of Peshawar, and has been using the busy University Road for her travel from Shuba bazaar to UoP on a daily basis.

An aggrieved student said on one hand, women could hardly find seats on public transport, while on the other hand, harassment in vehicles was on the rise. She said she had no option but to abandon travelling in public transport. “I have been harassed by conductors, commuters and students on public transport including wagons and other vehicles. She alleged that males were often sitting on female seats on public transport and sometimes they had to stand extremely close to male passengers on buses and other vehicles. The conductors, she said were physically harassing them on buses and wagons.

She was not the only woman being harassed on public transport. Usually, these cases are not reported, according to Shabina Ayaz, a female social worker who works at Aurat Foundation in Peshawar. She clearly said the law known as Amendment to the Penal Code of Pakistan, Section 509 which relates to harassment was not in practice in its true letter and spirit. Neither police officials nor women have knowledge about the law, saying that was the reason it was violated by the people.

Ms Shabina stressed the need for awareness of women along with other people with regard to law so that it could protect women from harassment. She also described that cases were not being reported because of strong cultural and traditional norms in society.

“No concrete action has been taken by police personnel against those who harass females at public traffic,” the student claimed. She suggested police officials concentrate on bringing reforms in their management system in order to facilitate affected girls. According to a welfare organisation, the law would come into effect and legal action against the accused person would be taken if he the modesty of any woman was insulted, uttered any word sound or gesture, or exhibited any object. There is a year to 3-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs.500, 000 for those who partake in such harassment, it added.

District Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Peshawar City Raheem Khan categorically said that maximum 15-20 complaints were registered with them by aggrieved women on public transport. The traffic police have not received any complaints pertaining to harassment onpublic transport and the challans were being given to drivers for seating males on females’ seats, he added. He stressed upon the need of proper awareness drive for females.