Violence, crime rock Punjab's provincial capital

A week marked by the resolution of high-profile murder cases, domestic abuse and sexual assault incidents has left Lahore on edge.

Among the notable developments were the solving of the murder of Dr Shahid Siddique, a founding member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and multiple arrests in domestic and sexual violence cases, highlighting the city's rising crime rates.

On Saturday, the Organised Crime Unit (OCU) of the Lahore Police made a significant breakthrough, announcing the arrest of all suspects involved in the murder of Dr Shahid Siddique, a founding member of PTI and the owner of a private hospital.

Dr Siddique was shot dead shortly after offering Friday prayers. He was walking back to his car with his son when the shooter struck. The investigation uncovered disturbing details: Qayyum had been frustrated by ongoing conflicts with his father over marriage choices, demands for luxury cars, a staggering monthly pocket money of Rs3 million and disputes regarding property inheritance.

Qayyum decided to eliminate his father, planning the murder meticulously for over 20 million rupees.

The week also saw an alarming number of domestic abuse and sexual violence cases. In one particularly distressing incident, a woman was hospitalised after her husband allegedly attempted to poison her.

The Virtual Women Police Station received an urgent call, and officers rushed to the scene, finding the woman in critical condition. Thanks to timely medical intervention, her life was saved.

The police arrested the husband and have initiated legal proceedings against him.

In another case, a woman in Ghaziabad was brutally beaten by her husband, sustaining severe injuries to her face and eyes. She managed to escape to a neighbour's house, where the police were alerted.

The husband was promptly arrested and now faces serious charges of domestic assault.

In Mianwali, a crystal meth-addicted man attacked his wife with a knife, injuring their daughter in the process. The Virtual Women Police Station stepped in after receiving a report from a relative, rescuing the victims and ensuring the man's arrest.

The victims are currently receiving medical care while legal proceedings continue.

Another shocking incident involved a newborn baby forcibly taken from her mother by in-laws at a hospital on Multan Road, Lahore.

The Virtual Child Safety Centre quickly responded, retrieving the infant and returning her to the mother. The in-laws were warned of legal action if they continued their harassment.

Sexual violence incidents also rocked the city. In Chung, three men were arrested for the gang rape of a young boy.

The suspects, identified as Abbas Ali, Abdul Waqas, and Atif Ashfaq, lured the victim to an abandoned house, where they assaulted him throughout the night. All three men were apprehended by the police and are facing charges of gang rape.

In Kot Lakhpat, a woman was sexually assaulted by her relative under the pretence of helping her secure a job at a factory.

The suspect, Rizwan, manipulated the situation to lure the victim to his home, where he attempted to rape her. However, the assault was interrupted by the arrival of the victim's husband, forcing Rizwan to flee. He was later arrested by police in Chand Rai village.

In another disturbing case in Manawan, a property dealer named Naeem was accused of raping a woman under the guise of showing her a property. The victim quickly reported the assault, and the police have launched a manhunt for the suspect, who is currently on the run.

Adding to the week's controversies, former Inspector General (IG) of Prisons, Shahid Saleem Baig, was forced to clarify rumours surrounding his supposed arrest by intelligence agencies.

In a video statement, Baig dismissed the reports as baseless, stating that he was safe at home and not involved in any criminal investigation. His clarification put an end to the circulating misinformation.