MANSEHRA: Balakot Police Division’s first female Superintendent of Police (SP) Rashim Jehangir has encouraged women to come forward and file their first information report (FIRs) against the injustices perpetrated against them, The News reported on Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting of female constables and sub-inspectors in Balakot she said: “We need to change the police culture where women feel hesitant to come forward and lodge their FIRs against crimes inflicted upon them.”

The police officer convened the meeting of female-only constables and sub-inspectors after assuming her position on Tuesday.

“We must eradicate gender-based violence and other crimes committed against women and this will only be possible when we change the existing police culture,” she said, adding that the police were also there to serve women and provide them with security under all circumstances.

“Women are often deprived of their inheritance by male family members, and we will act on such cases as well and are going to establish separate counters for women’s complaints, and you must give them a sense of security and privilege,” added SP Jehangir.

Noting that female constables and officers were standing alongside their male counterparts in the line of duty, the police officer said: “You [female officers] must uphold the legacy of our brave police force and never hesitate in protecting the lives and property of citizens throughout the entire police division, which stretches across the Balakot tehsil up to Babusar Top.”