September 10, 2026
By Rehan Piracha
LAHORE
Police have arrested all four armed suspects, along with their weapons, involved in breaking into a tenant family’s home within the jurisdiction of Peshawar’s Rehman Baba police station. The four are accused of locking the husband and children in a room at gunpoint, and gang-raping two of the women in a separate room. Police officials say a case like this, in which more than woman from the same family gang raped has not happened before.
How the crime was committed
SSP Operations Peshawar, Farhan Khan, told media during a briefing, that the harrowing incident occurred within the limits of the Rehman Baba police station around 2 AM on Sunday night, when four armed men scaled the wall of a rented house and broke in. Present in the house at the time were the husband, his two wives (aged 22 and 27), and two children — a son and a daughter.
“All four suspects were armed; they were carrying a Kalashnikov and a pistol,” he said. “They tied up the husband and locked him in a room, along with his school-going son. The minor daughter, a seventh-grade student, was inappropriately touched by the attackers, but was later also locked in the same room with her father,” SSP Operations said.
He said the suspects then subjected both the women to gang rape at gunpoint – both wives of the man.
“Three of them raped one woman, the elder wife, while one of the suspects raped the younger wife,” he said. “The victims begged and pleaded with the attackers, joining their hands before them, but the suspects showed no mercy,” SSP Operations added.
The victims’ courage
According to SSP Farhan Khan, initial investigation revealed that the suspects believed the family, being economically vulnerable tenants, would not be in a position to approach the police.
“The suspects assumed that because this family were poor tenants, they would stay silent — and in our society, such incidents are often suppressed. Perhaps the suspects committed this heinous act believing the same would happen here,” he said. The suspects also robbed the family of their mobile phones and cash.
Immediately after the assault, the husband and the two victims walked on foot to Rehman Baba police station, arriving at around 4 AM, and registered a report. Praising the family’s courage, the SSP Operations said, “It is the bravery shown by this family that they came to us that very night and informed us of the entire situation.”
Four teams formed to nab suspects
As soon as the incident was reported, an FIR was registered under the relevant sections of law, and four teams were constituted to investigate the case led by the Additional SHO, the SHO of Rehman Baba, the DSP of Rehman Baba, and the SP Sadar.
“We have arrested all four suspects along with their weapons. During initial questioning, the suspects have confessed to the crime,” SSP Operations confirmed, adding that a Kalashnikov and a pistol were recovered from the suspects, along with the stolen mobile phones and cash, and that physical remand of all four suspects had been obtained from the court.
“It is our resolve to ensure these beastly criminals are given exemplary punishment under the law,” SSP Operations said.
Protecting the identity of the rape survivors
Briefing the media, SSP Investigation Dr. Muhammad Sami Malik requested the reporters present not to disclose the identity, locality, or any details of the victims that could lead to their identification, in line with the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act.
“Under the law, we will not disclose the identity of the victims at any stage. Their names will not be used anywhere, and they will be recorded in case files only under coded references,” SSP Investigation said.
He said a dedicated investigation team had been constituted under provisions relating to special sexual offences, headed by a woman officer of SP rank.
Only female officers in contact, psychological support provided
According to SSP Investigation, police have ensured that the victims do not interact with any male officer at any stage of the investigation.
“We have made every effort to ensure that at no stage do they have direct contact with a male officer. A Victim Support Officer has been assigned who has remained with them continuously since the incident and is providing them counselling,” he said.
He further said sessions with a psychiatrist and a psychologist had also been arranged for the victims to help them cope with the trauma. “The psychological toll these women have suffered cannot be undone in such a short time, but the police will continue making every effort to support them going forward,” SSP Investigation said.
Statement recorded, forensic evidence collected
SSP Investigation said the victims’ statements had already been recorded before a magistrate in court, and that the case had entered the judicial process. “In the judicial proceedings too, our effort has been to keep the victims’ identity confidential, known only to the honourable judge,” he explained.
He said all forensic evidence had been collected from the crime scene and that the investigation was proceeding on a scientific and technical basis. “In this regard, we are also seeking the assistance of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency. The samples available to us have been sent for forensic analysis so that the suspects can be convicted on the basis of scientific evidence,” SSP Investigation said, adding that fingerprints found on the recovered weapons were also being matched.
Concluding his remarks, SSP Investigation said that while an incident of this nature was deeply distressing, the family’s courage in coming forward to report it — and the arrest of all suspects within such a short span of time — reflected the public’s trust in the police. “Our effort will remain to ensure the victims receive justice while their identity is protected at every stage,” he said.