The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah traded accusations over the alleged mistreatment of women in jails.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan tweeted: “If there were any doubts about women being mistreated in jails, this press conference from this certified criminal should remove all such doubts. He is so obviously trying to cover up and preempt the horror stories about to break in the media. Women have never been so mistreated and harassed by the state as they have been by this fascist govt when they were exercising their right to protest peacefully.”
Imran Khan also tagged a video of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah press conference. Speaking at a post-midnight presser, interior minister Rana Sanaullah claimed intelligence agencies had intercepted a conversation indicating that the PTI was planning two separate actions, which he termed ‘dramas’.
He said the intercept revealed the PTI was planning some action at a specific residence, without offering any further details. He also claimed the intercepted conversations indicated that a “rape act” would be committed and it would be blamed on law enforcers. “It was thought that perhaps this drama would be unfolded [tonight] so it was decided to inform the nation of these fiendish designs,” he claimed.
The PTI has denied the allegations, calling them “baseless” and “politically motivated”. The party’s spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry said that the government was trying to divert attention from its own failures by making false accusations against the PTI.
The allegations of mistreatment of women in jails have sparked outrage in Pakistan. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for an independent inquiry into the matter. The HRCP has also expressed concern about the increasing number of women being arrested and detained in Pakistan.
The situation in Pakistan is a reminder of the importance of protecting women’s rights in custody. Women should be treated with dignity and respect, and they should be protected from violence and abuse. Pakistan’s government is responsible for ensuring that women in custody are treated fairly and humanely.
