Islamabad cops ask parkgoers to avoid dark parts of F-9 park following rape case

The Islamabad police said Monday that while the "department is working with the local administrations to improve security arrangements" in sector F-9's park — following a harrowing incident of sexual assault in the recreational area — civilians are advised to stay in lit-up areas of the park after sunset to ensure safety.

Two armed men had allegedly raped a girl — who was at the F-9 park with her male colleague on Thursday evening, according to a first information report (FIR).

Taking to Twitter, the spokesperson of the Islamabad police wrote: “The Islamabad Capital Police are investigating the incident on a scientific basis. The police, along with the district administration, are improving the security arrangements of the park. Visitors to the park during evening hours are requested to limit themselves to areas with light.”

The police claimed to be probing the incident on a “scientific basis”, making use of forensic reports and DNA tests during the investigation.

In the statement, the spokesman also said that people coming to the park in the evening were advised to “limit themselves to places with light” and call 15 in case of an emergency.

The gun-toting aggressors had taken the two to a nearby thicket at gunpoint and separated them, according to the FIR. The attackers also demanded to know what the victim was doing at the park in the evening. As they left, they reiterated that she should not come to the park after dark.

Reacting to the incident, the Islamabad police had said its Gender Protection Unit was probing the harassment under CPO Operations Sohail Zafar Chattha.