Husband among two arrested for torturing woman in Lahore

Survivor says husband and employees beat her, stripped her naked, shaved her head over refusal to dance for them

Two men were arrested in Lahore on Wednesday for torturing one of the suspects' wife over her refusal to dance for their entertainment.

The incident of domestic abuse came to light after the victim's video was widely circulated on social media platforms, leading to Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi taking notice and ordering police action.

I have asked IG Punjab to furnish report of incidence of Women under assault by her husband in DHA Lahore. I have further directed to ensure safety & medical facilities to her. State is all Aware to protect our daughters & sisters from toxic relationships. Zero tolerance IA

— Shehryar Afridi (@ShehryarAfridi1) March 27, 2019

Consequently, Punjab IGP Amjad Javed Saleemi issued orders for immediate action and called for a report at the earliest. Later, Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari also took notice of the incident.

Took notice and chkd - my office was informed by SHO PS Kahna Lahore: Police has registered FIR and arrested both accused & booked under sections 337-v and 506. Medical report of the woman is awaited. One of the arrested is Faisal her husband pic.twitter.com/M3yMN4wlUU

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 27, 2019

The minister confirmed that Kahna police have registered an FIR against the two arrested accused under Sections 337-v and 506. She also confirmed that one of the arrested men was the woman's husband, Faisal.

In the video, the woman narrates her harrowing ordeal at the hands of her husband. "He has always beaten me but this time he even shaved my hair off and hit me on the head with a manhole cover."

She goes on to say that her husband ripped off her clothes in the presence of his employees. "The employees held me down while he shaved off and burned my hair. My clothes were all bloody. I was tied with a pipe and he threatened to hang me naked from the fan."

The survivor also spoke about the abhorrent behaviour of police officials at Kahna police station. "They wanted me to pay a bribe. I did not even have shoes on when I escaped the house. They did not give me an FIR number or take me for a medical examination. All they wanted was money."