Umar Sheikh, the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) of Lahore, confirmed on Thursday that a Pakistani French woman was raped on Lahore-Islamabad Motorway near Lahore’s Gujjarpura locality. 

Talking to the media on Thursday evening, Sheikh said that woman’s medical report has confirmed that she was raped. He said that three villages are located around the crime scene and evidence has already been collected. He said that investigation into the woman’s rape would mostly rely on DNA tests. He said that CCTV footage has been collected from the areas around the crime scene, but it is not clear enough to identify the accused. He said the woman and her husband are French nationals. 

Clarifying his earlier statement about the victim woman, Sheikh said he is a simple person and talks straight. He said the woman should have taken a safe route at night and she should have travelled via GT Road instead of Motorway. He said the Pakistani society is not like the French society and the victim woman should have taken her safety into account before leaving her home. 

The CCPO had earlier said the woman should have checked petrol in her car’s tank before setting on her journey and taken GT Road instead of Motorway.

Sheikh said that police were investigating the rape case on four lines. He said that geofencing of the crime scene has been done, rural and urban policing is being used and foot tracers have been called in. 

Shahzad Akbar, adviser to prime minister on accountability and interior, accompanied the Lahore police chief to the media talk. Talking to the media, he said that crimes in Lahore would not be tolerated. He said he had been assigned the Lahore rape case and the culprits would be arrested soon. He said that CCPO’s statement had been made controversial. He said it was government’s duty to make localities and roads safe for people. 

Referring to allegations against CPEC Authority Chairman Asim Saleem Bajwa, Shahzad Akbar said this was the first time that such allegations have been levelled. He said those who were demanding Bajwa’s resignation should move the court for a JIT on the issue if they have the courage.