Karachi court seeks police response to woman’s plea for FIR, protection after DHA scuffle

The South additional sessions judge has issued notices to the South senior superintendent of police complaint cell and Darakhshan station house officer, calling for their response to a woman's request regarding registration of a case and her protection due to a fight in Defense Housing Area, Karachi.

It had been reported that the video footage of two women fighting in presence of police personnel inside a flat of Khayaban-e-Bukhari went viral on social media last week.

A case had been registered at Darakhshan Police Station in connection with the occurrence.

The petition had been filed by the applicant, wherein she had stated that she along with her brother had been assaulted in a dispute among women in DHA, however, the police had declined to register their complaint and rather lodged a case against them.

At the time of hearing, the counsel for the petitioner stated that the applicants had visited the police repeatedly for registering a case against the attackers, but nothing was done since the opposing party was reportedly influential.

The petition was submitted by the victim, who claimed that she and her brother were assaulted during a dispute involving women in DHA. She alleged that despite approaching the police, their complaint was not registered and a case was instead lodged against the siblings.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer argued that the applicants had repeatedly contacted the police seeking registration of a case against the alleged assailants. However, no action was taken, allegedly because the opposing party was influential.

The counsel also told the court that the siblings faced serious security threats following the alleged assault and the registration of the case against them. He requested that the court order the police to register a case against those responsible and provide protection to the applicants.

Appearing before the Sindh High Court, their lawyer Muhammad Arif said the siblings had been unable to return home for 11 days due to security concerns arising from the dispute.

He further informed the court that the South deputy inspector general of police had contacted the applicants and assured them that action would be taken against those responsible. Their statements had also been recorded, he added.