Gang rape victim dies during botched abortion in Lahore

LAHORE: An 18-year-old alleged gang rape victim girl died during a critical procedure carried out at a government hospital following multiple abortion-related complications.

The girl (a domestic helper) was allegedly subjected to gang rape by the son and driver of her employer in Model Town.

As per the FIR and the video statement of the girl, she was sexually assaulted multiple times by the two suspects some months back and her employer kept the matter hushed up to avoid police action.

However, the issue came to the limelight when the girl died of multiple abortion complications. According to police, the victim had accused the married son of the house owner and her driver of gang rape.

Murder sections invoked in FIR filed against two suspects and domestic help’s employer

The girl said she was initially taken to a private clinic in Raiwind due to the complications caused by the pills. During the illegal abortion procedure, the doctors diagnosed her with a 4 to 5 months foetal death (miscarriage), declaring it a high-grade medical condition.

She was sent back to her hometown in Faisalabad to take rest for some weeks. As her condition grew critical there, she was rushed to the Services Hospital, Lahore, on May 23. A police official said an FIR was registered on the basis of her initial statements and nominated both suspects and her employer.

The police added the murder charges in the case when she died during surgery at the Services Hospital. The police official claimed that the driver was arrested and remanded in judicial custody while others had managed to get bail.

The police said the investigation has been transferred from the Gender Cell to the Investigation Wing to re-investigate the involvement of all suspects, including members of the family who were exonerated during earlier proceedings. He said the police were waiting for the final report of the postmortem examination which was conducted some days back.

A police team has been formed to investigate the private clinic staff if evidence of negligence or unlawful procedure is found, he said.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2026