Inmate accuses Abbottabad Darul Aman staff of abuse; police initiate investigation

A woman inmate has accused the staff at Darul-Aman, a government shelter home in Abbottabad, of sexually and physically assaulting her. The police have initiated an inquiry to investigate these allegations.

A video recorded in the local court in Abbottabad is making rounds on Social Media, in which the woman inmate accuses the Darul Aman management,

“They have been sexually assaulting me and putting Chillies in my eyes,”
District Police Officer, Abbottabad, Umar Tufail, told The Northern Post that he has taken action of the incident as per the inmate’s claims and initiated an inquiry into the case to probe it fairly.

He said that he had asked SP Cantonment for a transparent and fair inquiry and to submit the report as soon as possible to him.

DPO said that if anything was found as claimed by the woman, an FIR would be lodged against the concerned officials.

According to the DPO, initial reports say that the woman had gone to Darul Aman several times since 2019. However, the inquiry would make anything clear.

Azam Mir Afzal, spokesperson for Abbottabad police, told The Northern Post that the woman was sent to Darul Aman by her parents.

Rabia Zakir, the head of Darul Aman in Abbottabad, informed the media in her version that the woman stated in her court testimony that she no longer wished to stay at Darul Aman, but she did not take a definitive stance on the allegations against her.

The shelter in-charge said it had been suggested that she has a criminal mindset and identifies as a lesbian, engaging in inappropriate behaviour towards other girls.

The young women at Darul Aman are reportedly afraid of her, and she has been involved in multiple marriages.

According to Ms Zakir, Alisha Bibi, the woman in question, has a criminal record and frequently petitions the court to remain at Darul Aman.

According to Rabia Zakir, Alisha’s presence has led to daily conflicts within the institution, necessitating the deployment of two police officers for her protection.

Zakir stated that all relevant facts were presented in court, leading the institution to deem it untenable to keep Alisha any longer. The court subsequently dismissed the case based on her statement.

The Darul Aman in-charge stated that if she were found guilty, she would accept the punishment, but the inmate’s allegations.

She termed the woman’s allegations baseless.

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