Umerkot police on Thursday said they would inquire into allegations of verbal and physical abuse of two female health professionals at the hands of a district and sessions court superintendent and police officers.

Dr Kiran and Lady Health Visitor (LHV) Tejan addressing the media together at a local press club accused a superintendent of the district and sessions court Umerkot of abusing and humiliating them, and ordering policewomen to "torture" them.

Narrating the incident, Dr Kiran claimed she and Tejan had been performing their duties at the District Headquarters Hospital when an individual posing as a police guard of an Umerkot civil judge approached them with a request to visit the judge's residence in order to administer an injection to his son.

She said they asked the 'guard' to speak to the hospital's medical superintendent, as they were not allowed to leave the hospital without his permission. In response, the person left immediately, she said.

Later in the day, when both arrived at their respective residences, they found police personnel waiting outside their homes to inform them that they had been called to court, she claimed.

"Upon reaching the court, District and Sessions Court Superintendent Akbar Rahimoo abused us, humiliated us, and ordered lady police personnel to teach us a lesson in the courtroom," the doctor alleged, adding that the policewomen kicked, punched and slapped them in the presence of three lawyers and court staffers.

"We demand justice," she concluded.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Umerkot Usman Aijaz Bajwa told DawnNews that he had already summoned the policewomen allegedly involved in the incident to inquire into the matter.

"If proven guilty, I will suspend them and deal with the matter as per the prescribed procedure," the SSP said, adding that he would also speak to the district and sessions court judge regarding the allegations.

Akbar Rahimoo, the court's superintendent, while speaking to DawnNews, claimed that he had only been following orders.

"I am just a subordinate. I acted upon the orders of the honorable session judge to call them at court," he claimed, strongly denying the accusations of abuse and humiliation.

Different lawyers forums and bar associations have expressed their anger over the incident on social media and demanded justice. They have also announced their intention to file a petition to take up the matter legally.