A woman in Lahore was forced to jump from a fast-moving motorcycle after the ride-hailing rider allegedly tried to harass her. The shocking incident happened in Johar Town and has once again raised serious concerns about women’s safety on the city’s roads.
According to police, the episode took place on October 17. The woman had booked a ride from F-2 in Johar Town to Watto Palace. During the journey the rider allegedly began behaving inappropriately. Feeling unsafe and with no other option, she jumped off the moving motorcycle. CCTV footage captured the moment she leapt from the bike. She suffered injuries to her face, nose, throat and head. The rider immediately fled the scene.
Her brother later approached the police and registered a formal complaint. A case has been filed against the rider, but authorities have not yet shared the suspect’s identity or any major progress in the investigation.
This incident comes just days after another disturbing case in the Mozang area. On October 24, police arrested a man accused of assaulting a woman who was riding a scooter on Mozang Link Road. The suspect reportedly blocked her path, knocked her down, slapped her and pulled her hair, leaving her with injuries to her face and nose. That case was registered on a complaint filed by the woman’s father.
These back-to-back cases highlight the risks many women still face while using public or ride-hailing transport in Lahore. In response, the Punjab government has introduced several safety measures. A QR-code panic button system has been installed in more than 82,000 rickshaws, cabs and public transport vehicles. Women can scan the code to seek immediate help during any emergency or harassment situation. Officials have also ordered tracking systems for online cabs and warned that companies failing to meet the new safety standards will face action.
Chief Traffic Officer Lahore Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi confirmed that teams are actively installing the panic buttons at 45 locations across the city. He said the step is mandatory and aims to bring public transport under stricter regulation while giving passengers, especially women, a quick way to call for help.
Despite these efforts, the recent incidents show that much work remains to make the streets safer for women. Stronger enforcement, faster investigations and greater awareness are still needed so that no woman feels forced to jump from a moving vehicle just to protect herself.
