July 14, 2026
By Rehan Piracha
LAHORE
Lodhran District Police have arrested two suspects in two separate cases. One case involves the alleged rape of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl, while the other concerns the alleged rape of a married woman.
In the first case, Lodhran Police claim to have arrested a suspect for the alleged rape of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl in Mauza Wahi Salamat Rai.
According to police, the complainant stated that his minor daughter was sitting on a cot outside their home when she suddenly disappeared. When he raised an alarm, nearby fellow laborers gathered, and together they began searching for the girl.
Shortly afterward, they heard the girl crying from a nearby sorghum field. When the father and others reached the spot, they found the suspect attempting to assault the child. Upon seeing them, the suspect fled the scene.
Following the complaint, police registered a case under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code and arrested the suspect. Further investigation into the case is ongoing.
In the second incident, a married woman was allegedly subjected to rape. According to police, on July 7, the suspect called the woman and asked her to come help with household chores for his daughter’s mehndi ceremony.
The woman traveled to the location by rickshaw, where the suspect picked her up on a motorcycle and took her to an unfamiliar shop. According to the woman, the suspect then beat her and raped her by force. When she raised an alarm, witnesses and other people arrived at the scene, but the suspect managed to flee.
A case was registered at Sadar Police Station, Lodhran, on July 10, after which police arrested the suspect. According to the woman, the suspect’s relatives attempted to have the matter settled informally, but she insisted on pursuing legal action. Police have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
A wider pattern of violence against women in Pakistan
These two cases from Lodhran reflect a broader and persistent problem across the country. Sexual and gender-based violence against women remains a serious issue in Pakistan.
According to the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), violence against women continues to expose significant weaknesses in protection and justice mechanisms nationwide.
5000 rape cases last year
According to the latest available SSDO report, more than 5,000 rape cases were reported across Pakistan during 2025 alone, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of systems designed to protect women and hold perpetrators accountable.
The report also noted that the conviction rate in rape cases remained below 2 percent, reflecting major obstacles in delivering justice to survivors of sexual violence. These figures point to persistent structural and legal challenges, including delays in investigations, evidentiary hurdles, societal stigma, and barriers that discourage survivors from pursuing legal recourse.
SSDO described the situation as deeply alarming and stressed the urgent need for effective implementation of laws, timely justice, and stronger institutional measures to ensure women’s safety and protection.
The organization also emphasized that improving survivor support systems, strengthening prosecution, and ensuring accountability remain critical steps in addressing gender-based violence in Pakistan.