19-year-old mother of two says assailants took turns assaulting her while driving through remote areas and recorded the attack on video.
A 19-year-old married woman with two young children was allegedly gang-raped by four men inside a passenger van that continued moving through areas near Rawat in Punjab province, according to a police First Information Report (FIR) lodged by the victim’s mother.
The incident, which reportedly occurred about two months ago shortly before the start of Ramadan, has sparked fresh concerns over women’s safety in public transport and the delays in registering such cases in Pakistan.
Police at Rawat station have registered a case against the driver, identified as Sultan, another man named Aqeel, and two unidentified individuals. Special teams have been formed to arrest the suspects, with raids currently underway.
Alleged Gang Rape Case and Coercion Reported in FIR:
According to the FIR, the woman boarded the van in her village to travel to Rawat Bazaar to buy clothes for her children. Instead of following the normal route, the conductor allegedly shut the door and diverted the vehicle towards Chak Beli Road.
When the victim raised an alarm, she was overpowered. The van reportedly stopped at Chak Beli Morr, where another man boarded. The four men then allegedly took turns sexually assaulting her inside the moving vehicle while driving around the Baga Sheikhan area and other roads in the vicinity.
The complaint states that the assailants recorded the assault on a mobile phone and later used the video to threaten the victim and her family via WhatsApp, pressuring them not to report the crime. The victim’s husband reportedly advised against going to the police, and a local jirga (traditional council) was also said to have been involved in attempting to suppress the matter.
The woman’s mother eventually lodged the FIR, after which a medical examination of the victim was conducted.
Police response and investigation:
A police spokesman confirmed that the case has been registered and that investigations are ongoing. “Special teams have been constituted to arrest the accused and raids are under way,” he said.
Authorities have not yet announced any arrests. The delay of nearly two months in registering the FIR has drawn criticism from rights activists, who argue it reflects systemic issues in how sexual violence cases are handled, including pressure from families and local influential figures.
Women’s Safety Concerns and Call for Justice:
This latest case comes amid persistent concerns over women’s safety in Pakistan, where incidents of sexual violence, particularly in public spaces and transport, frequently make headlines.
Similar high-profile cases in the past-including the gang rape of a woman on a moving train and attacks on motorways-have triggered nationwide outrage and calls for stricter enforcement of laws and better protection for female passengers.
Women’s rights groups have long highlighted how fear of social stigma, threats from perpetrators, and pressure from family or community structures often discourage victims from coming forward promptly. Many cases are either under-reported or settled informally through jirgas, which critics say often prioritise “honour” over justice.
Pakistan’s penal code provides severe punishments for rape, including the death penalty or life imprisonment for gang rape, but conviction rates remain low due to challenges in evidence collection, victim support and judicial delays.
Activists have demanded swift arrests, a thorough investigation, and measures to ensure the safety of women using public transport in rural and semi-urban areas of Punjab.
As the investigation continues, questions are being raised about the role of local transport operators and the effectiveness of police response in remote jurisdictions.