WOMEN DEMAND PROPER PARTITION IN METRO BUSES
SICK OF PHYSICAL AND VERBAL HARASSMENT, WOMEN COMMUTERS DEMAND PROPER PARTITIONS IN THE BUSES
THE Metro Bus service which was aimed to facilitate the commuters of the provincial capital Lahore has become a mean of harassment against women by men because of the absence of a proper partition between the two sides, Pakistan Today has observed.
Women commuters of Metro Bus service have called on the authorities to make proper arrangements for the women travelling on the buses.
Metro Bus has become the only choice for many of the commuters from Gaju Matta to Shahdra in Lahore since the routes of many local vans and buses have been stopped by the authorities. The buses are crowded during the peak hours.
Where this bus service has provided an easy and affordable journey for many, it has also allowed ‘ill-mannered’ men to harass women more easily.
Lack of a proper partition between the male and female sides of the bus allows inappropriate physical contact between the two genders. Alia, a daily commuter of the Metro Bus, says she experiences harassment very often.
“Since other transport services have suspended, Metro Bus is the only choice for me to travel from General Hospital to Azadi Chowk. The lack of proper partition makes the travel difficult as I have to face men who shamelessly stare at me,” she said.
Another female commuter Ayesha also expressed concern and said that had seen men making awkward gestures during her travel on the bus.
“Though this service is economically viable and takes less time but harassment is definitely a problem. Not only do men stare at us, they also make inappropriate gestures and sounds,” she said adding that government should take step to resolve this issue by installing proper divisions.
Other bus services of local companies operating in Lahore have installed proper division between men and women section which lessen the chances of harassments.
However, another female commuter was quite satisfied with the Metro Bus service saying it was much better than traveling in local vans where she had to face harassment from drivers and other passengers.
Sadia Sohail Rana, Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf MP in Punjab Assembly, discussing the issue of women harassment in the Metro Buses said Punjab Government was not interested in controlling harassment.
“There is no point of making legislations and laws if they are not implemented. Punjab government is ruthlessly wasting public money on the projects of its own interests instead of making proper force to control harassment in the province,” she said adding that PTI would raise voice on the matter in assembly.
An official of the Punjab Metro Bus Authority while talking to Pakistan Today said that the authority has never received any complain any woman claiming that she was harassed on the bus. He said that the driver of the bus has authority to remove the passenger from bus or can hand over him to the police.