Pakistani cop, woman reach settlement after viral assault video sparks backlash

An assault case involving a police officer and a woman in Pakpattan, located in Pakistan’s Punjab province, has culminated in an out-of-court settlement between the victim and the accused.

The case had sparked widespread public condemnation after a video surfaced showing the officer physically assaulting the woman within her residence.

Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Ejaz Ahmed, who was suspended and arrested following the incident, was granted bail after the parties reached an agreement. The widely circulated footage showed ASI Ahmed slapping and kicking the woman during a police raid, while a female constable stood by.

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According to the police First Information Report (FIR), the incident occurred on July 12 during a police operation at the victim’s residence.

Pakpattan District Police Officer (DPO) Javed Iqbal Chadhar told Nukta that the raid was initiated after a complaint by the woman’s former husband. He accused her of attempting to unlawfully seize his property and steal belongings. Following this, a separate FIR has been filed against the former husband.

In a video statement, the victim alleged that she had repeatedly tried to file complaints against ASI Ahmed but was ignored by the police. She also claimed that the officer took her to multiple locations after the assault.

However, DPO Chadhar denied these accusations during a press conference, insisting that the victim had neither approached his officers before the incident nor afterward to file a complaint.

Chadhar strongly condemned the assault, confirming the officer’s arrest following an internal inquiry that found him guilty. He emphasized that the Punjab police force will not tolerate abuse of authority, underscoring orders from Punjab’s chief minister to protect women’s rights and dignity. “There is no place in the Punjab police for those who violate these principles,” he said.