Key Takeaways
- A man has been arrested by police for allegedly raping a foreign woman in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA).
- The victim, a medical assistant from the US, reported the incident to Darakhshan police on July 17.
- Further investigation is ongoing into the case.
Police in Karachi have arrested a man over an alleged rape of a foreign woman residing in the city’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA), according to South Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza. The incident reportedly took place on July 17, around 4am.
The victim, identified as a 49-year-old medical assistant from the United States, reported the alleged assault to Darakhshan police after waking up in her bed and finding herself being raped by an unknown man who had been taking her home. She immediately resisted, screamed for help, and struck the suspect before he fled on a motorcycle.
Dr Summaiya Syed, a Police Surgeon, told Dawn that samples were collected from the victim for serology and DNA testing as part of the investigation. The FIR was registered under Section 376 (punishment for rape) of the Pakistan Penal Code, with further details being investigated by police.
The woman recalled that she had been taken to a shirt by a woman and her two daughters who came to assist her after the incident. She also alleged that the suspect later returned to retrieve his phone without knocking on the door, leading to another confrontation where she screamed and beat him before he fled again.
In a related case, Lahore police registered an FIR on July 2 after two foreign women from the Netherlands and Venezuela alleged they were abducted and sexually assaulted during their visit to Pakistan. One of the suspects in this case was among four arrested and is reportedly related to a senior political figure.
The victim’s statement in the FIR detailed her distress, stating: 'I fell to the ground screaming in grief at the top of my lungs.' She also mentioned that she attempted to chase the suspect but failed and collapsed on the street, screaming in distress and trauma. Subsequently, someone called the police, and she was taken to the police station.
According to Asad Raza, further investigation into the matter is ongoing. The arrest has sparked concern among foreign residents of Karachi about their safety within the city’s housing schemes.
'I fell to the ground screaming in grief at the top of my lungs.'
The victim
'Her samples have been collected for serology and DNA.'
Dr Summaiya Syed, Police Surgeon
