April 9, 2025
By Iqra Manzoor
LAHORE
A disturbing case of sexual abuse and blackmail has come to light, after a 14-year-old girl filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Dhamial Police Station, leading to the arrest of three individuals, all of them family members – a couple and their son. According to the complaint, the girl and her cousin were both raped.
According to details in the FIR, the primary accused, Amir Abbas — a resident of Girja Road, Malik Colony, Rawalpindi — along with his wife Samina, and son Zaman, and another woman named Farzana, were accused of manipulating the young girl’s family in Kot Addu under the guise of offering her employment in Rawalpindi. Coming from a financially struggling background, her parents agreed to send her with the accused.
The girl claims that upon arrival in Rawalpindi, she was taken directly to Amir Abbas’s residence where he raped her, and the assault was recorded on a cell phone by him. The accused then used the footage to blackmail her into further exploitation. According to the FIR, the victim was repeatedly taken to different locations where others also abused her, with payments allegedly going to the family of the accused.
The complaint further states that the accused also later targeted a cousin of the victim, subjecting her to similar abuse through threats and blackmail. Both the girls were allowed to return to their hometown during Eid, but the threats continued. The accused allegedly warned them that their videos would be leaked online if they did not return to Rawalpindi after Eid.
Speaking to Voicepk, a police official at Dhamial Police Station confirmed the details of the case.
“Three of the four accused—Amir Abbas, his wife, and their son—have been taken into custody,” said the official. “Right now we are actively searching for the fourth accused woman Farzana, who is also involved in the case.”
The Investigation Officer (IO) handling the case also commented on the case.
“We took the accused to court today, but there was no hearing; it has been postponed till tomorrow,” he informed. “Both victims have also been brought to court for their testimony.”
The case has been registered under sections 376 (rape), 371A (trafficking for prostitution), 292 (distribution of obscene material), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Growing cases of VAW
This incident underscores the growing vulnerabilities faced by underprivileged children in Pakistan, where poverty and a lack of oversight expose them to trafficking, sexual violence, and exploitation. In 2024 alone, 5,253 cases of violence against women were reported, including 611 rapes, 119 gang rapes, and 32 cases involving rape-related pornography—a stark reflection of the deep-seated crisis of gender-based violence in the country.
Pakistan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for women and children, with violence continuing at a disturbing rate. Crimes such as torture, murder, honour killings, suicide, and abduction reveal systemic issues that persist across society. These figures likely represent only a fraction of the actual cases, as many go unreported due to fear, stigma, and a lack of support. The ongoing crisis demands urgent action, stronger protections for vulnerable populations, and a comprehensive approach to addressing gender-based violence.