Key Takeaways
- Punjab government has prevented women police officers from attending the 63rd International Association of Women Police Conference in Bali.
- Selected officers, including SSP Amara Athar and SP Zainab Ayub, were denied permission due to their current duty assignments.
- The decision has sparked controversy, with the Ministry of Interior seeking clarification.
The Punjab government has barred women police officers from participating in the 63rd International Association of Women Police Conference, despite initial approval from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to officials, the National Police Bureau under the Ministry of Interior had selected officers from Punjab and other provinces for the conference, with financial support expected from the US International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) program.
However, the Punjab government has refused to allow its women police officers to attend due to their current duty assignments, citing administrative constraints.
In a related development, Punjab Police has written to the Ministry of Interior to seek clarification on the matter, highlighting the importance of the officers' participation.
The selected officers, including SSP Amara Athar, SP Zainab Ayub, SP Beenish Fatima, and SP Ayesha Butt, were among those denied permission to attend the conference.
Additionally, SP Kainat Azhar from Islamabad Police and SP Resham Jahangir from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police were also selected but faced similar restrictions.
Permission had also been sought for SP Shehrbano Naqvi to participate, further emphasizing the scope of the issue.
The decision has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it undermines the government's commitment to women's empowerment and professional development.
The Ministry of Interior is currently investigating the matter, with officials stating that they will provide a detailed response soon.
