In Lahore, the police have arrested a fake spiritual leader (peer) for engaging in inappropriate behavior and attempting to assault women, ARY News reported. A formal case has been registered against him on the complaint of the victim’s brother, and the suspect is under investigation. According to details, the police took immediate action in the Harbanspura area of the provincial capital, Lahore, arresting the fake spiritual leader, identified as Abdul Rauf, who used the pretext of faith healing to molest and attempt to assault women.
Talking about details of the case, the police revealed that the suspect, Abdul Rauf, entered a house under the guise of performing a spiritual healing ritual. He deceived the family members and managed to get them out of the room, after which he misbehaved and made inappropriate advances toward the woman who was left alone. They stated that the suspect repeatedly called the woman at night, demanding she visit his house, and threatened her with severe consequences upon her refusal. To catch the suspect red-handed, a decoy girl was sent to his hideout under police supervision, where the suspect again attempted to assault her by force. Under the direction of the Superintendent of Police (SP) Cantt, the Harbanspura police apprehended the suspect on the spot and handed him over to the Gender Cell for further interrogation.
Meanwhile, Hina Parvez Butt, Chairperson of the Punjab Women Protection Authority, took strict notice of the incident and immediately contacted the victim, assuring her of full legal cooperation and justice from the government. She stated that people who play with women’s dignity and honor in the name of spiritual healing deserve no leniency. She added that these fake spiritual leaders are a scar on society, and the strictest legal action will be ensured against them. She further emphasized that harassing, blackmailing, or threatening women is an intolerable crime. She urged the women of Punjab not to remain silent against such elements and to immediately report any form of harassment to the police or the Women Protection Helpline.
