A slap for a slap: Maryam Nawaz adopts zero-tolerance policy against violence towards women

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has reiterated her zero-tolerance stance against harassment and violence targeting working women, warning

LAHORE/FAISALABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has reiterated her zero-tolerance stance against harassment and violence targeting working women, warning that individuals who assault or intimidate women earning an honest living will face strict consequences.

In a statement posted on X on Monday, Maryam said that anyone who dared to raise a hand against a woman struggling to support herself would have to face similar humiliation. She maintained that victims would have the right and opportunity to retaliate. She further emphasised that wealth, influence and political connections would no longer protect anyone from accountability, adding that the state would stand firmly behind vulnerable citizens.

Her latest remarks followed an assault on a female sales assistant at Kohinoor Plaza in Faisalabad on November 8. According to the FIR registered at Madina Town Police Station under Sections 354 and 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code, the woman was working at a lingerie store when an argument arose over rent and taxes. She reportedly advised the accused to contact the shop owner because the premises were exclusively for female customers.

Police said CCTV footage showed the man pulling the employee from behind the counter, throwing her to the floor and kicking her. He also allegedly threatened and verbally humiliated her. The suspect was arrested on Monday, while legal proceedings were initiated. A video subsequently shared by Maryam showed the victim slapping the arrested man, reflecting the chief minister’s stated policy.

The Faisalabad incident follows similar cases that have shaped Maryam’s public position. In October, a woman riding a scooty on Mozang Link Road in Lahore was allegedly stopped by motorcyclist Syed Mudassir ul Hassan, also known as Ghulam Mustafa. He reportedly pulled her hair, repeatedly slapped her, verbally abused her and threw her bag containing a laptop worth Rs50,000. The victim sustained facial injuries, including damage to her nasal bone.

Police traced and arrested the suspect with assistance from Punjab Safe Cities Authority cameras. Maryam later met the victim and encouraged her to slap the attacker back. However, the woman declined, saying the government’s support and assurance of justice were enough. The accused subsequently secured post-arrest bail against a Rs100,000 surety bond, prompting the chief minister to express disappointment and promise to raise the matter with senior judges.

Another incident involved a petrol pump employee in Lahore’s Jubilee Town who was assaulted after asking a customer not to smoke on the premises. Maryam shared footage of the arrested suspect being slapped by the employee, criticising those who mistreat poor workers.

She has also repeatedly referred to the death of 15-year-old orphan Waseem Abbas, who was run over in Multan. His death, she said, continues to haunt her.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has highlighted several measures, including a dedicated option through Police Helpline 15 for women reporting harassment, the Virtual Women Police Station and the revival of Women’s Protection Centres. Maryam has also directed police leadership to improve performance and ensure accountability.

At a scholarship ceremony in Mandi Bahauddin, she declared that no criminal would be spared, even if politically connected.

Maryam’s message remains that harassment and violence against women will not be tolerated and that ordinary citizens deserve protection regardless of their financial or social standing.