Women's safety incidents in Lahore

Recent incidents in Lahore have highlighted ongoing concerns regarding the safety of women in public and transport settings.

In the Mozang area, police arrested a man named Ghulam Mustafa after CCTV footage captured him assaulting a woman on a scooter. The suspect reportedly blocked her path, verbally abused her, and snatched her bag, resulting in facial injuries and a fractured nasal bone for the victim. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari stated that the arrest occurred the same night, noting that violence against women is a “red line” for the provincial government.

Separately, in Johar Town, a woman sustained serious injuries, including a head injury requiring intensive care, after jumping from a moving ride-hailing motorcycle to escape alleged sexual harassment. The rider, identified as Naeem, reportedly made lewd demands and attempted to touch the victim without consent. The Nawab Town Police Station has registered a case against the accused. This incident has renewed discussions regarding the safety of app-based transport services, following the Punjab government's recent introduction of QR-code panic buttons in thousands of public transport vehicles.