WEBDESK - NAYADAUR
The handcuffing of female suspects brought from Adiala Jail to courts in Rawalpindi has triggered strong protests from lawyers, who have described the practice as unconstitutional, illegal, unethical, and inhumane.
Women accused appearing before courts said they were being transported and kept in custody with both hands handcuffed for six to seven hours, from the time they left the jail until they returned after court proceedings.
The women said the practice had made routine activities extremely difficult. They said they struggled to adjust their dupattas or shawls when they slipped, use washrooms, and interact with children and relatives who came to see them at court.
They also said getting into and out of police vans while both hands were restrained had become difficult.
Some women alleged that male police officers had to physically assist them while boarding or leaving vehicles. They claimed that officers sometimes held them from behind or held their hands, which they said caused embarrassment and concerns about maintaining their privacy.
The women said they had protested against being handcuffed but were told by police personnel that the practice was being carried out on the orders of the Rawalpindi City Police Officer and that officers could face consequences if they refused to comply.
Senior lawyer Shan Zaib Khan said the Constitution and law prohibited the handcuffing of women and children and said legal action was being considered against the police officer who issued the order.
Khan said he intended to approach the high court, arguing that the practice violated constitutional protections and should immediately be stopped.
He said female accused persons and their families were experiencing significant distress as a result of the practice.
District Bar Association President Malik Sajid Tariq Awan also condemned the handcuffing of women with both hands, describing it as a violation of constitutional protections. He said the bar would continue its protest and could approach the chief justices of the Supreme Court and High Court if the practice continued.
Lawyers also questioned the necessity of imposing such restrictions on female accused persons, particularly in cases where there had been no reported escape from police custody.
The controversy has placed renewed attention on the treatment of women in police custody and the safeguards that should apply to accused persons during transportation and court appearances.
The lawyers have demanded that the practice be withdrawn, while the affected women have called for an end to what they described as a humiliating and physically restrictive procedure.