PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has proposed establishing separate jails for women across the province.

In this regard, the KP Home and Tribal Affairs Department is expected to send a summary to Chief Minister Mahmood Khan for approval soon, Special Assistant to CM for Prisons Shafiullah said. He said a proposal has been floated under the jail reforms, and a special meeting would be convened with the chief minister over the issue.

The special assistant said that after approval of the chief minister, the Home Department would prepare a feasibility study to identify suitable locations for the jails, and about capacity of the prisoners. He said at present there are insufficient facilities for women inmates in jails. He said the government is making efforts to improve facilities at jails.

The purpose of the proposal was to give a sense of protection to female inmates languishing in different jails of the province.

Currently, there are 12 jails for women across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wherein 160 prisoners are languishing against the capacity of 354. The special assistant said that 35 out 160 prisoners have been convicted, while cases of 125 were under trial in different courts.

Women desks have also been established in police stations to facilitate women complaints and their grievances besides providing them guidance on various issues. Such desks have also been set up in police stations of merged tribal districts.

Well-trained female staff had been deputed at these women facilitation desks to listen and register complaints especially on the gender crimes and domestic violence. Facilitation desks are providing free legal aid, complaint writing and other services to women complainants.

Women staff can understand women’s issues more easily and in a better way as compared to male policemen. Women complainants visiting these desks were now openly discussing their problems at facilitation desks without any hesitation as compared to past practices.

A woman police official said now more complaints are received about domestic violence and cases related to inheritance. She said a friendly environment was provided to women complainants and separate rooms were set up for children.

She said women facilitation desks have been setup in eight police stations of Peshawar.