August 11, 2025
By Muhammad Kamran
LAHORE
A girl ended up losing her life following an incident of harassment in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, on Friday, August 9. Fakhira Bibi, 20, fell from a cliff at the Pir Chinasi area, after she ran from the group of men who were harassing her continuously. An FIR has been registered under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), at the City Police Station Muzaffarabad over her death. The incident has sparked outrage among locals and civil society activists, who are calling for an end to ‘moral policing’.
Father alleges ‘intent to kill’
The complainant of the incident, is the father of the deceased, Amjad, who has nominated five individuals in the FIR including Aqeel Ahmad (son of the family’s landlord), police constable Raja Amir, and three unidentified men.
According to the FIR, Amjad had been living in the Lower Plate area on rent for the past 16 to 17 years. He said that on August 9, his daughter, Fakhira, who worked as a teacher at a private tuition center, left for work as usual, while he and his wife visited her parents’ house. At around 3 pm, Amjad received an unexpected call from a relative informing him that Fakhira had died.
The FIR alleges that Aqeel, the son of their landlord, picked Fakhira from the tuition center. He was in a Suzuki Mehran and was driving towards Pir Chinasi. At around 1:15 pm, Amir and three unidentified men allegedly assaulted Fakhira, said Amjad, allegedly with the intent to kill her and then pushed her off a cliff. The three unidentified suspects fled the scene.
‘Moral policing has become a norm’
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) AJK, Riaz Haider Bukhari, told Voicepk that both Aqeel and Amir had been arrested, but there was no evidence so far of the involvement of any other men.
SSP Haider said that Amir, whose house was near where the car was parked, claimed that he saw Aqeel and Fakhira “engage in indecent actions” and therefore he attacked Aqeel. He reportedly called out to passersby to help restrain Aqeel, but no one stopped. During the altercation, Fakhira panicked and tried to run. Amir chased her because of which she fell from the cliff.
According to police, Aqeel attempted to rescue Fakhira and took her to CMH Muzaffarabad, but she died from excessive bleeding before reaching the hospital. Aqeel was arrested because he had taken Fakhira to the site without her parents’ knowledge, and was named in the FIR.
SSP Haider noted that “incidents where locals take the law into their own hands” occur in the region every one to two months. He denied allegations of police harassment of tourists, claiming such incidents are “very unlikely.”
Public outrage and protests
The incident has triggered widespread protests in Muzaffarabad. On Sunday, locals and civil society activists gathered outside the press club, chanting slogans and demanding the arrest of all those involved.
Shahid Zaman Awan, a civil society activist, said that instead of focusing on those who harassed the couple, police “arrested the boy accompanying the girl, which is a traditional police tactic.” He criticized the lack of institutions where women can report harassment, especially when the accused are police officials.
Another protestor said, “We need to know who was the savior and who was the perpetrator. We have been demanding harassment prevention for a long time.”
Political response
Nisaran Abbasi, a member of the AJK Legislative Assembly, told Voicepk that she has spoken to the Inspector General of Police and a dedicated reporting desk for women will be established soon, staffed by women police officials to make it easier for women to lodge complaints.
“Legislative measures are already there for the prevention of harassment,” she said. She condemned the incident, saying it was ‘unfortunate that a girl had lost her life’.
“Nobody has the right to take the law into their own hands and be the judge. Even if there is anything indecent going on, laws are there and nobody should take the law into their own hands.”
Demand for accountability
Activists have demanded a thorough, transparent investigation into the case and the arrest of everyone responsible, including locals from the area where the incident occurred. They have also called for concrete measures to prevent harassment under the guise of ‘moral policing,’ which they allege is used to extort money or valuables from couples at tourist spots.
SSP Haider said a committee comprising the DSP, SHO, and other officials has been formed to investigate the case. He also mentioned plans to establish a women’s police station in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur, in addition to the existing facility in Rawalakot, alongside women’s protection cells to handle harassment cases.