Sept 18, 2024
By Shoukat Korai
KARACHI:
Women’s rights activists and civil society organisations are critiquing the sexual assault incident involving a polio vaccinator in the village of Allah Bakhsh Jakhrani, 75 kilometers from Sukkur in Sindh. They condemn the district administration for failing to ensure adequate security for polio workers and worsening the challenging conditions for women in the field.
Protests have erupted across Jacobabad, Hyderabad, and Karachi, with demonstrators demanding justice. They allege that influential figures may be shielding the accused, who has not been arrested yet.
In response, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered an accelerated investigation into the case. As part of immediate actions, the deputy commissioner, district health officer, and senior superintendent of police of Jacobabad were removed from their positions on September 16.
In the aftermath of the assault, the victim’s husband abandoned her and took their children away from the house. A district court later intervened, restoring her custody of the children. She has since been placed in a government shelter for protection.
According to Dawn, the victim testified in court, revealing that four men were involved in the incident. She claimed one man assaulted her with the help of three accomplices.
This incident has intensified concerns about the safety of female polio workers, raising doubts about their ability to continue the crucial work of polio eradication in Sindh.