Woman allegedly gang-raped in moving van

Police say suspects recorded assault, threatened to share videos on social media

RAWALPINDI:

A married woman with two children was allegedly gang-raped in a passenger van in the jurisdiction of Rawat Police Station. According to police, the accused reportedly assaulted the 19-year-old mother while the van was in motion. The police have registered a case based on a complaint filed by the victim's mother.

After the incident, the victim's husband reportedly asked her not to report the matter to the authorities, and a local jirga reportedly allowed her to receive medical treatment on the condition of remaining silent. The accused allegedly threatened the woman with the release of videos of the assault on social media.

According to the FIR, the victim was married four to five years ago and has two sons, aged three and two. On the day of the incident, shortly before Ramazan at 11.30am, she was on her way to Rawat Bazaar to buy clothes for her children. She boarded a van from her village, which was later diverted by the conductor toward Chak Beli. One man, identified as Aqeel, joined the vehicle. Whereas the driver was identified as Sultan. Despite her resistance, the van was taken to a location near Bagga Shaikhan, where the accused allegedly attempted to take her into a house but initially failed.

During the journey, the victim alleges that the four men took turns assaulting her multiple times inside the moving van while recording the acts on a mobile phone. She was later released near Chak Beli around 4.30pm. The victim informed her husband upon returning home, but he reportedly asked her to remain silent. The accused allegedly made repeated WhatsApp calls threatening to release the videos online if she reported the incident.

Local jirga members reportedly pressured the victim not to pursue legal action, promising medical treatment, which was never provided. The accused include Sultan, Aqeel, and two unidentified men.