Woman gang-raped by late husband's friend: Faisalabad police

Accused Abbas called the victim and offered to take her to a man for financial aid

FAISALABAD: A woman was allegedly gang-raped by her deceased husband’s friend and his accomplices in Faisalabad, police told Express News on Wednesday.

M*, a resident of Chowk Samanabad, lodged a complaint at the police station, stating that she was a widow and lived in a house in the area with her children.

She said that as she was facing financial issues, one of her husband’s friends, Abbas, called her and offered to take her to a man for financial aid.

M* revealed that she believed the culprit and went along with him on a motorcycle. The victim said instead of taking her to the man, the accused took her to a house in an undisclosed location where three other accomplices Sajjad, Fazal and an unidentified man were waiting for them.

She revealed that the culprits took her to a room and allegedly gang-raped her. Later, she said the accused dumped her in an unconscious condition at Bank Chowk in Samanabad and fled the scene.

Meanwhile, the police have registered a case and conducted raids to arrest the culprits.

Cases of sexual abuse have seen a sharp increase across Punjab. Such incidents occur on a daily basis but the government’s counter measures have been largely disappointing.

Faisalabad remained the hub of these incidents as most cases have been reported from the division, followed by Rahim Yar Khan, Gujranwala and other areas.

A report issued by NGO Sahil revealed that the highest incidents of sexual abuse involving children were recorded in Punjab. Earlier, Sahil executive director Manizeh Bano said the sexual exploitation of women and children across Punjab had been reported over many years.

She added hundreds of rape cases have been identified, but only a few victims have come forward to seek justice.

*Name withheld to protect identity