A 15-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted at a private hospital in Mandi Bahauddin, Punjab, on Sunday, sparking outrage among local residents. The victim’s mother reported the incident to the Civil Lines Police Station where an FIR was registered under Sections 376(3) and 114 of the Pakistan Penal Code against three individuals involved in the assault.
The initial complaint detailed that the girl went to collect medicines with her aunt and uncle, but after an extended absence, she did not return. Concerned for her safety, her relatives searched for her and discovered a room where they found one suspect attacking her. The unidentified armed suspects present at the entrance also fled upon seeing them.
The Civil Lines Police Station identified one suspect in the FIR, while the other two remained unnamed until their identities could be confirmed. Inspector Sohail Aslam of the Special Sexual Offences Investigation Unit (SSIOU) supported the case with a preliminary medical report from the victim. He stated that searches are underway to apprehend all fleeing suspects and added that efforts are also being made to identify the other two individuals.
According to reports by Sahil, an NGO focusing on children’s rights, 3,364 child abuse cases were reported across Pakistan in 2024 from all four provinces. Of these cases, approximately 1,828 involved child sexual abuse, impacting both male and female victims equally.
The geographical distribution showed that Punjab accounted for the highest number of reports at 78 percent, followed by Sindh with 12 percent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 4 percent, Islamabad Capital Territory with 4 percent, and Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan together contributing the remaining 2 percent.
Inspector Aslam emphasized that all three suspects would be apprehended soon. Authorities are urging residents to report any suspicious activities or information related to these cases for a swift resolution.