Woman raped in Taunsa Sharif while selling bangles: A shocking incident from the southern Punjab town of Taunsa Sharif has drawn widespread condemnation and renewed fears about the safety of working-class women in Pakistan. A woman raped in Taunsa Sharif while she was selling bangles in residential areas has become the focus of a criminal investigation after the survivor provided her testimony to local authorities.
According to police reports, the victim, who belongs to an underprivileged family, had been working as a bangle seller in the area for over a year. On the day of the incident, she was approached by a man pretending to be a potential customer. He allegedly tricked her into following him to a quieter part of the neighborhood on the pretext of buying bangles in bulk for a family event. Once isolated, the man forcefully assaulted her.
The woman later reached a nearby police station in a distressed condition, accompanied by a few local residents who found her crying near a deserted plot. A medico-legal examination was promptly conducted, and sources from the district hospital confirmed that the report verifies signs of sexual assault. Authorities have registered a First Information Report (FIR), and the case is now being handled by the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Cell of Taunsa Sharif police.
Police officials stated that CCTV footage from nearby homes and shops is being collected to identify the attacker. They are also tracing mobile tower pings in the area to narrow down suspects who may have been present at the time of the incident. The woman is currently receiving both medical treatment and psychological counseling under police protection.
This case of a woman raped in Taunsa Sharif has led to public protests on social media and growing calls for stronger legal action against sexual offenders. Civil society groups and local NGOs have condemned the incident, urging the Punjab government to ensure justice is delivered swiftly and transparently. Social workers in Taunsa Sharif emphasized that women in informal jobs—such as street vendors, domestic helpers, and hawkers—often face heightened risks of harassment and assault with little institutional protection.
Women rights activists have also pointed out that although awareness around sexual violence has improved in recent years, prosecution and conviction rates remain alarmingly low. “Until the state creates an environment where women feel protected and perpetrators are punished swiftly, such tragedies will continue,” said a spokesperson for a local rights organization.
Officials from the Punjab government have taken notice of the case. The regional police chief has been asked to submit a progress report, and a special investigation team (SIT) is expected to be formed if the accused is not apprehended soon.
As the community reels from the horror of another case of sexual violence, the survivor’s courage in reporting the crime is being praised by locals and social media users alike. The hashtag #JusticeForTaunsaVictim has started trending online, with netizens demanding immediate arrest and legal action.
This case has once again highlighted the urgency for national reforms in handling crimes against women, especially in rural and semi-urban areas where law enforcement is often under-equipped and understaffed.
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