Lahore woman jumps from moving motorcycle to escape alleged harassment

A woman was injured in Lahore's Johar Town after she jumped from a moving ride-hailing motorcycle to escape alleged harassment by the rider, police said, in an incident recorded on closed-circuit television.

According to police, the ride was booked on October 17 from F-2 in Johar Town to Watto Palace. During the journey, the rider allegedly behaved inappropriately towards her.

Police said the woman jumped from the moving motorcycle. Footage of the incident, reported by Geo News, appears to show her leaping off the bike. She sustained injuries to her face, nose, throat and head in the fall, police said.

The rider fled the scene after she jumped. Her brother later filed a complaint against him, leading to the registration of a case, police said. Police have not yet disclosed the suspect's identity or given details of the investigation's progress, and no arrest has been announced.

The case comes less than a week after another reported harassment incident in the city. On October 24, The News reported that Mozang police had arrested a man accused of assaulting a woman riding a scooter on Mozang Link Road. Police alleged that the suspect blocked her way, knocked her off the scooter, slapped her and pulled her hair, injuring her face and nose. That case was registered on a complaint by the woman's father.

In a separate case reported by Geo News in August 2024, a ride-hailing driver in Lahore was accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger before fleeing.

The Punjab government has announced measures aimed at improving passenger safety. Earlier this month, a QR-code panic button was introduced in 82,000 rickshaws, cabs and public transport vehicles, according to The News, allowing women to seek emergency assistance in cases of harassment or other threats. Officials also said a tracking system was being installed in online cabs and that action would be taken against services that failed to adopt the prescribed safety features.

Police have not said whether the motorcycle involved in the Johar Town incident was registered with a ride-hailing company or whether any safety feature was active at the time.