LAHORE – Chinese journalist of Daily Pakistan was sexually harassed by the Punjab police on June 28. The incident occurred near Packages Mall between 3:00-4:00 pm, while she was walking towards her residence.
According to Fanli Meng – Chinese correspondent of Daily Pakistan – her Careem driver dropped her near Packages Mall. She was alone and walking towards her home when an Elite Police Force (EPF) van stopped near her and asked her to hop in. There were two members of EPF sitting in the van – driver, and passenger. Unaware of Pakistan’s laws, Ms Meng obliged and hopped on to the passenger seat.
It is to be noted here that journalist was asked to sit on the passenger seat – although a policeman was already sitting there – while the back of the van was empty. Ms Meng initially did not understand why she was made to sit in the passenger seat squeezed next to a policeman while the back of the van was completely vacant. It was only when the driver and other policemen then started asking inappropriate questions and tried to touch her inappropriately did she understand what was happening to her. Horrified Ms Meng jumped out of the moving van and started walking towards a crowd for her safety.
Seeing this, the police car fled away. Fearing for her safety, she called her friends who then took her home.
Ms Fanli Meng is panic-stricken and fears for her safety. Pakistan is already an unsafe place for foreigners, journalists, and women, since Ms Meng belonged to all three categories it was the responsibility of the Police to respect and help her, who instead made the horrible and shocking decision to prey on her.
Daily Pakistan will be raising this issue with the highest authorities to ensure that those involve receive due punishment and our guests and journalists in Pakistan receive the respect and dignity they deserve.
