Lahore, November 9,2026: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has vowed strict action against those who physically assault women, saying that anyone who raises a hand against a woman earning an honest livelihood must be prepared to face the consequences.
“Dare to raise your hand against a helpless woman who leaves your home every day to earn an honest living, and be prepared to face the same humiliation. She will have the right and the opportunity to slap you back,” Maryam Nawaz said in a post on social media platform X.
Her remarks came after a video showing a man physically assaulting a salesgirl at Kohinoor Plaza in Faisalabad went viral on social media.
According to Faisalabad police, the incident occurred on November 8 when the salesgirl informed the man that the shop was exclusively for women. CCTV footage shared by police showed that the premises were a lingerie shop.
Police said the man became enraged and assaulted the woman, pulling her from behind the counter before throwing her to the ground. The suspect was subsequently arrested, and legal proceedings were initiated against him.
According to details shared by the Punjab chief minister, the shop owner had visited the premises to collect rent when the salesgirl asked him to leave and contact the business owner, explaining that it was a lingerie shop.
A first information report (FIR) was registered at Madina Town police station on Monday on the complaint of the woman.
The FIR invoked Sections 354 and 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), relating to assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty and words or gestures intended to insult her modesty.
In her complaint, the woman said she was performing her routine duties at the shop on November 8 when the owner arrived to collect rent.
She explained that rent was paid in instalments on different dates and handed over Rs5,000, asking him to collect the remaining amount later.
However, she alleged that the man began arguing about taxes. She told him that, being an employee, she had no authority to make decisions regarding tax matters and advised him to contact the business owner.
According to the FIR, the man behaved in an extremely insulting manner, threatened to slap her and subsequently physically assaulted and kicked her despite her repeated requests to discuss the matter with the owner.
Maryam Nawaz, while sharing a video of the alleged victim slapping the suspect, said no individual, regardless of wealth, influence or power, would be allowed to intimidate, exploit or harm ordinary citizens with impunity.
“The state will stand firmly with the vulnerable and respond decisively to those who misuse their power,” she said.
“The days of the powerful getting away with abusing the powerless are over. The state will hit back!” she added.
The chief minister has previously taken notice of similar incidents involving violence against women and vulnerable workers.
Last month, she intervened after a man allegedly assaulted a woman riding a scooty on Mozang Ring Road in Lahore. She said she had spoken to the victim and encouraged her to slap the attacker as many times as he had slapped her.
However, the woman reportedly told the chief minister that she felt reassured simply because the government had made her feel protected and assured her that justice was on her side.
Maryam Nawaz later expressed displeasure over the suspect being granted bail.
In another incident last month, a man was accused of assaulting a petrol pump employee in Lahore. The chief minister shared footage showing the employee slapping the arrested suspect while a police officer attempted to intervene.
Describing the incident as a response to the mistreatment of poor workers, she criticised individuals who believed that wealth and influence placed them above the law.
She reiterated that her government stood firmly with the oppressed, irrespective of the power or influence of those accused of exploiting them.
