Surge in taxi-related abductions, harassment of women in Islamabad

Islamabad:The federal capital is witnessing a disturbing rise in abductions and harassment cases targeting female passengers, particularly by taxi drivers. This alarming trend has instilled fear among residents, exacerbated by police negligence and delayed action against perpetrators. Victims and their families are left frustrated and vulnerable due to law enforcement’s failure to take swift and effective measures.

On March 4, 2025, a shocking abduction occurred near PIMS Hospital when 24-year-old Naz Bibi, a disabled woman unable to walk or speak, was forcibly taken away by an unknown individual in a taxi. Her father, Jamshaid Khan, a resident of Bharakahu, Athal Chowk, had taken his wife and children for a medical check-up at Children’s PIMS Hospital. While he was inside, Naz Bibi was left sitting on the green belt of the service road with her 10-year-old brother, Jamshaid Ullah. Upon returning, Jamshaid Khan was horrified to find his daughter missing. When he questioned his son, the boy had no knowledge of her whereabouts. However, a bystander informed him that a man had forced the disabled girl into a taxi and driven off.

Despite the gravity of the crime, the Karachi Company Police Station refused to register a case immediately. The police displayed gross negligence and indifference, leaving the victim’s family desperate for help in locating their missing daughter.

In another harrowing incident within the jurisdiction of the Karachi Company Police Station, a taxi driver allegedly kidnapped a woman and attempted to sexually assault her. Shockingly, it took the police four days to register an FIR, and the accused remains at large, further eroding public trust in law enforcement.

According to an FIR filed on February 27, a woman named Tharmeen, daughter of Aslam and a resident of F-6/2, reported that her two younger sisters—16-year-old Jennifer and 14-year-old Alizeh—had booked an online taxi at 11 PM to return home to G-8, where they live with their father. During the ride, the taxi driver began making inappropriate and suggestive remarks, making the girls feel deeply uncomfortable and fearful. Instead of following the designated route, he deliberately took a detour to an isolated area behind a cricket ground in G-8/2. The driver then attempted to physically assault one of the girls. However, their screams alerted a nearby security guard. Sensing the danger, the driver fled the scene, abandoning the terrified girls in the desolate area.

Despite the severity of the crime, the police failed to take immediate action, giving the suspect ample time to evade arrest. The case was eventually registered under Sections 382, 376, and 511 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC)—pertaining to robbery, sexual assault, and attempted rape—yet no significant progress has been made in apprehending the culprit.

These harrowing incidents are not isolated but part of a growing pattern of crimes against women and vulnerable individuals in Islamabad. Repeated delays in registering FIRs, reluctance to investigate, and failure to apprehend culprits expose serious flaws in law enforcement efforts. The lack of accountability has emboldened criminals, further endangering public safety.

Concerned citizens, human rights activists, and victims' families are demanding urgent measures to curb the rising threats against women. Their key demands include immediate reforms in law enforcement practices to ensure timely registration of FIRs and swift action against perpetrators; enhanced safety measures for women in public and private transport through stricter background checks on taxi drivers and improved surveillance and a dedicated task force to investigate crimes against women and hold negligent police officers accountable.

The failure of Islamabad’s law enforcement agencies to take effective action against harassment, abduction, and sexual assault is a growing cause for concern. If authorities do not urgently reform their policies and response mechanisms, public trust in the justice system will further erode, leaving citizens in constant fear for their safety.