July 15, 2023
By Maryam Missal
LAHORE
Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police on Saturday stated that while the alleged Margalla Hills Trail 3 rape incident is being investigated on merit, the complainant’s medical report found no evidence of sexual assault. The complainant and accused appeared to be “friends”, said police.
Earlier on Friday, a woman lodged a complaint at the Kohsar police station against one Nouman for luring her on the prospect of employment and allegedly raping her. According to the complaint, the incident occurred on Wednesday, along the Margalla Hills’s Trail 3, a popular public spot.
The alleged survivor, who hails from Muridke, stated that Nouman contacted her on WhatsApp, posing as an accountant at the education office, and offered to secure her a job in the Capital. He also reportedly requested Rs50,000 in cash in exchange for his services.
She told police that she traveled to Islamabad where she found temporary accommodation with a relative. On the second day of her stay in the city, Nouman asked her to meet him at the Tench Bhatta bus stop in Rawalpindi where she handed him Rs30,000 as advance payment, with an agreement to pay the remaining Rs20,000 once she received her employment documents.
She stated that the
Accused informed her that she needed to meet a senior officer for an interview, along with other candidates. The following day, the complainant once again met the accused at the Tench Bhatta bus stop, where he offered to accompany her to the interview location.
According to the complaint, Nouman instead took her deep into Margala Hills via Trail 3 into a densely forested spot and allegedly pulled a gun on her. He then proceeded reportedly sexually assault her, and threatened her with dire consequences if she reported the incident.
She stated that the accused then abandoned her at the same location from where he had picked her up, however, she was able to manage back to her relative’s house.
A first information report (FIR) was lodged under section 376 (punishment for rape) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which prescribes the death penalty or imprisonment of a term no less than 10 years or more than 25 years, as well as a fine. However, on Saturday, the ICT Police stated that the complainant’s medical examination yielded no evidence of rape.
“The plaintiff is reluctant to cooperate with the police and has not provided details of the accused. Margalla trails are protected with drone surveillance and effective patrolling,”
the ICT Police statement reads, adding that the exact location where the alleged incident occurred is being determined and that all aspects of the case are being investigated.
F9 Park becomes a hotbed of sex crimes against women
On February 2, 2023, Margalla Police registered a case against unknown assailants who raped a woman at gunpoint in ICT’s F9 Park. According to the FIR registered under section 376 on the complaint of the survivor, she was visiting the park with a male colleague when two armed men intercepted her. The accused forced them into the thicket where they tortured and raped her at gunpoint.
Later on July 6, 2023, videos of a man flashing a woman in the same park went viral on social media. The woman explained in a message that the man followed her to her car and then began masturbating in public.
After Karachi, this time in F-9 Park, #Islamabad. Such cases are happening daily in F-9 park but no strict action against such culprits. @ICT_Police @ShehzadPSP pic.twitter.com/TFTrGZwEVs
— Islamabad Updates (@IslamabadViews) July 6, 2023
Prevalence of gender-based crimes in Rawalpindi
A recent report by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) has revealed alarming statistics on violence against women and crimes against children in the Rawalpindi division. According to the investigation, more than 600 cases of violence targeting women and 107 cases involving violence and crimes against children were reported in the region.
Specifically focusing on the twin city district, the report highlights a total of 326 recorded incidents. These include 10 cases of domestic violence against women, 236 cases of kidnapping, five cases of rape, two cases of honour killing, 23 cases of human trafficking, and 50 incidents of physical violence.
