7 more girls escape from Women Crisis Centre | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

7 more girls escape from Women Crisis Centre

PESHAWAR: NWFP government-run Women Crisis Centre (WCC) has failed to provide proper shelter and protection to helpless and distressed girls and women as seven more girls have escaped from the centre after fleeing of two girls from there in August, WCC sources have said.

The sources told Daily Times on Thursday that the centre’s management has failed to protect and provide facilities to helpless girls and that is why, women and girls are fleeing from the centre. The sources said that on September 26, a girl Ayesha broke the lock of the centre’s main gate in the absence of watchman and escaped from there along with other six girls. The cook of the centre informed Faqirabad police about the incident. The police blocked all exit points, but were unable to find the girls.

The girls fled from the centre after a girl was killed by her two brothers in the premises of a sessions court in Peshawar on September 26 when the centre officials brought her to the court. The official sources said that the girls fled from the centre the same day after the murder fearing their deaths at the hands of their relatives. It was the second incident as two other girls had fled from the centre on August 26. Noor Zaman, father of one of the girls, has filed a case against the centre management in a local court.

The in-charge of the centre, when contacted, said the watchman was present at the centre during his duty hours.

However, other watchmen were on leave. She dispelled the impression that the government’s lukewarm attitude was one of the reasons for dilapidated condition of the centre. The official said that Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development Sitara Ayaz was keen to work for the uplift of the centre and was taking personal interest in its affairs. She said that the district social welfare officer and other authorities were informed immediately and action against absent watchmen was also taken. akhtar amin
Source: Daily Times
Date:10/2/2009