SAHIWAL: Police in Ghalal Mandi have registered a case against three men and a woman following allegations of rape and blackmail. The complaint was filed by a woman from Farid Town, who accused the suspects of exploiting her under the guise of a marriage proposal.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the victim, identified as the daughter of a widow, Sabrain Bibi, befriended a man, referred to as ‘A’, over the phone in February 2023. The complainant alleged that ‘A’ developed a physical relationship with her, promising marriage. During this time, he reportedly raped her and recorded the act on his phone.
When the victim pressured ‘A’ to fulfill his promise of marriage, he sent a woman, ‘L’, and another man to her home with a marriage proposal, which her mother accepted. The complainant stated that ‘A’ later lured her to Lahore under the pretext of shopping for their wedding. There, she was taken to a house in Johar Town, where she was allegedly held for two days and repeatedly raped by ‘A’, while his friend stood guard.
The victim also claimed that the suspects stole Rs30,000 in cash and gold ornaments worth Rs375,000 from her before dropping her back at her home. Following the incident, ‘A’ reportedly refused to marry her and threatened to release the recorded videos and images on social media if she reported the matter to the police. The complainant further alleged that the suspect continued to blackmail her and attempted to extort money.
In a separate incident, Noor Shah police have registered a case against five individuals for forcibly shaving the head and cutting the mustache of a political rival in Dadan village. The suspects, identified as Habib, Qurban, Shama, Lakhain, and Bashir Sanpal, allegedly recorded the act and shared the video with locals to humiliate the victim, Umer Farooq. They also reportedly stole Rs46,000 from him.
Sources suggest that the incident stemmed from political differences between Umer and a local landlord, who is believed to have orchestrated the attack.
The cases highlight ongoing issues of gender-based violence and political vendettas in the region, raising concerns about the safety and security of vulnerable individuals.
*Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2025*
