Hafizabad, June 4, 2025: A deeply disturbing incident has come to light in the Mangat Uncha area of Hafizabad, where a woman was gang-raped by at least eight armed men in front of her husband. The crime, which occurred on April 25, remained unreported for weeks due to threats from the perpetrators. However, police initiated action after video footage of the assault surfaced on social media.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed at Kasoki Police Station on Tuesday, the couple was travelling by motorcycle from Nowshera Virkan when they stopped briefly at a rest point. There, a man approached and verbally abused the woman before physically assaulting her. Soon after, a group of armed men arrived and forcibly took the couple to a secluded area near a graveyard.
The FIR states that the husband was tied up and made to lie on the ground while the woman was repeatedly assaulted by the group, despite his desperate pleas for mercy. The attackers also subjected both victims to physical violence and robbery, stealing two mobile phones, two tolas of gold jewellery, and Rs 2,500 in cash.
In a further act of cruelty, the suspects allegedly forced the couple to engage in sexual acts at gunpoint, filming the ordeal. The victims were later threatened with death should they attempt to seek medical help or report the crime to authorities. The case only came to public and police attention when the videos were uploaded online, sparking outrage.
Police have registered an FIR under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), including charges of gang rape, kidnapping, robbery, assault, unlawful assembly, and criminal intimidation. Four of the eight suspects have been identified by name in the complaint.
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that video evidence is being used to aid the identification process, and raids are underway to apprehend the accused. The couple has since undergone medical examinations, and further investigations are in progress.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with calls for swift justice and stronger protections for survivors of sexual violence. Human rights activists and legal experts are urging authorities to ensure the case is pursued without delay and without interference.