LAHORE: As many as five women, including a rickshaw driver, were allegedly raped, while a minor girl was sexually harassed in a street, in various parts of the city during the last one week or so.
As per police, the first information reports (FIRs) of all the reported incidents have been registered, and the investigations into these cases have been launched.
As per the reports, a man owing money to a woman (A), asked her to collect the amount by visiting his house in the Johar Town area. According to A, when she reached there, the suspect allegedly locked the door and raped her. She alleged that the suspect also tortured and hurled life threats at her to bar her from reporting the matter to police, before fleeing the scene.
In the Kahna area, a 22-year-old woman (S) told the police that a man from Gujranwala befriended her and later proposed to marry her. She alleged that during the courtship, the suspect raped her multiple times and later refused to marry.
Reporting another incident, a divorced woman (K), a resident of Kamahan, Nishtar Colony, told the police that she would earn livelihood for her seven children by driving an auto-rickshaw.
A year ago, she said, a man booked the ride and befriended her. She alleged that during their months-long friendship, the suspect allegedly raped her many times making false promises of marrying her and then disappeared suddenly.
In a similar incident in Sherakot area, a married woman (S), working in a beauty parlour to earn livelihood for her four children, was allegedly raped by her neighbour, repeatedly.
Meanwhile, Gujjarpura police claimed to have arrested a youth for allegedly raping his own sister at their house.
In a separate incident, the Kahna police registered a case against a young man for sexually harassing an eight-year-old girl in the street. The girl’s mother told the police that the suspect touched her daughter in an inappropriate manner when she was going to a grocery shop.
In a related development, the Punjab Police Executive Board considered various proposals to improve investigations into cases of violence against women, including rape, and exploitation.
Presided over by Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Kareem, the meeting was also attended by additional inspectors general (AIGs), heads of different wings and field units, besides deputy inspectors general (DIGs) and other senior officers. The south Punjab AIG and some other police officers participated in the meeting through video link.
During the meeting, the police officers presented proposals to further improve investigations into cases of violence against women.
The meeting approved the recommendations, assigning responsibilities to the relevant officials to initiate actions, accordingly.
In addition, the deputation policy, Leave Preparatory to Retirement (LPR), training and other administrative and policy matters were also discussed in the meeting.IGP directed that the proposals discussed during the meeting be further refined before being presented in the next meeting.
Mr Kareem also directed that the Police Executive Board meetings should be held regularly to ensure effective decision-making on key policy matters.
Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2026
