In a disturbing incident reported by Geo News, a taxi driver in Lahore has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman passenger while her female friend was present. This case has sparked alarm about the safety of women using both online and offline transportation options.
According to the complaint filed with the police, the driver completed the ride and dropped off the woman and her friend at their home. Instead of leaving, he followed them inside, where the alleged assault occurred. The driver reportedly requested a glass of water, and as the woman went inside to fetch it, he took the opportunity to enter the house and commit the crime, with the woman’s friend witnessing the assault.
The victim’s parents arrived shortly after and confronted the alleged attacker. In an attempt to avoid drawing attention and further traumatizing their daughter in a conservative society, they chose to let him go. The perpetrator fled the scene, leaving the family in shock and disbelief.
This incident highlights the vulnerability faced by many women in their daily lives and underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety measures, stricter regulations, and thorough background checks for online ride-hailing services.
The situation is reminiscent of a similar case from September 2020, where a woman and her children were attacked by robbers on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway. Such incidents reveal a troubling trend in violence against women in Punjab. Data from the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) indicates a staggering number of rape cases in the province, with Faisalabad, Lahore, and Sargodha being the most affected districts.
