"they kept throwing me in the air."
A Pakistani TikToker was assaulted and groped by hundreds of men near the Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore.
The shocking incident was captured on video and is said to have happened on August 14, 2021, Pakistan’s Independence Day.
It is believed that the woman had gone to the monument with six of her friends to film a TikTok video.
A large crowd of men then attacked the group. According to the victim, they were attacked by 300 to 400 people.
The video shows the mob surrounding the woman.
One man is seen putting his arms around the woman before he and some of the other men pick her up and take her away.
A boy is seen shockingly throwing something at the Pakistani TikToker as she is dragged away.
According to the woman’s complaint, she and her friends tried to escape but could not.
In the complaint, she wrote:
“The crowd was huge and people were scaling the enclosure and coming towards us.
“People were pushing and pulling me to the extent that they tore my clothes.
“Several people tried to help me but the crowd was too huge and they kept throwing me in the air.”
The Pakistani TikToker went on to say that her rings and earrings were “forcibly taken” while her friend’s phone and identity card were stolen.
She added: “The unidentified persons assaulted us violently.”
Watch the Video. Warning – Distressing Images
https://twitter.com/MajorPoonia/status/1427870496209608704
The video went viral and naturally, people were outraged.
One person said: “400 men assaulted a woman in broad daylight at Minar-e-Pakistan.
“Not a single one came to rescue. Hang your head in shame before saying not all men.”
“The culture that we rave about has ingrained violence and harassment and that is exactly why it needs to be called out!”
Another commented: “The level of depravity in that Minar-e-Pakistan video is honestly surreal.
“It’s like a scene out of a zombie movie. We need immediate action to re-educate the men in this country.”
Pakistani public figures also expressed their disgust.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif said he was “deeply disturbed” by the harassment incident.
He added: “What is more worrying is the direction our society is headed in.
“The recent anti-women incidents are a reminder that [the] malaise is deep-rooted.”
Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar said:
“There needs to be serious introspection of the causes of this ugly face of society.”
He added that “women cannot be left feeling insecure”.
Police have now registered a case against 400 suspects under Sections 354-A (assault or use of criminal force against woman and stripping her of her clothes), 382 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to commit the theft), 147 (rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mahmood Dogar stated that the culprits would be “traced soon”.
He said: “Those who misbehaved with the girl will be dealt with strictly.”
According to another officer, at least 10 suspects have been identified.
On August 18, 2021, Lahore Police issued a public appeal to help identify and arrest the suspects.
Loading ...