A terrified woman chose the desperate risk of leaping from a fast-moving motorcycle in Lahore's Johar Town rather than face alleged harassment by her ride-hailing rider. According to police and CCTV footage cited by Geo News, the victim sustained injuries to her face, nose, throat, and head before the rider fled the scene.
According to Geo News, the woman had booked a ride from F-2 in Johar Town to Watto Palace when the driver allegedly began behaving inappropriately. Her brother subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the police, leading to the registration of a case. Authorities have not yet disclosed further details regarding the suspect's identity or the progress of the investigation.
Background
This incident follows a series of reported safety concerns for women using public and ride-hailing transport in Lahore, as detailed in reports from Geo News and The News. Less than a week prior, on October 24, The News reported that Mozang police arrested a man accused of assaulting a woman riding a scooter on Mozang Link Road. In that case, the suspect allegedly blocked the victim's way, knocked her off her scooter, slapped her, and pulled her hair, causing injuries to her face and nose after a complaint was filed by her father. Geo News also previously reported an August 2024 case in which a ride-hailing driver was accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger in Lahore before fleeing.
In response to such incidents, the Punjab government has introduced measures aimed at improving passenger safety, according to The News. Earlier in the month, authorities introduced a QR-code panic button system intended for 82,000 rickshaws, cabs, and public transport vehicles to allow women to seek emergency assistance during harassment or threats. Officials told The News that a tracking system was being installed in online cabs and that action would be taken against services failing to adopt prescribed safety features. Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Lahore Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi stated that traffic teams were working across 45 locations and deploying personnel across traffic sectors to install the mandatory QR-code buttons to bring public transport within a regulatory framework and enhance passenger security.