Man arrested after foreign woman alleges sexual assault in Karachi

Police have arrested a suspect after a foreign woman accused him of sexually assaulting her at a residence in Karachi's Defence Housing Authority

KARACHI: Police have arrested a suspect after a foreign woman accused him of sexually assaulting her at a residence in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA). Authorities have launched an investigation, while forensic evidence has been collected to support the inquiry.

According to police officials, the case was registered after the woman filed a complaint shortly after the alleged incident. An FIR has been lodged under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with the offence of rape.

The complainant, a 49-year-old US resident working as a medical assistant in cardiology, had been living in DHA Phase VI for several months. She had arrived in Pakistan in November 2025.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that the incident took place in the early hours of July 17 after she allowed a man, who had accompanied her home, to enter her apartment.

She stated that she later regained consciousness and alleged that the suspect was sexually assaulting her. According to the complaint, she immediately resisted, screamed for help and physically confronted the man, who then fled the apartment.

The woman further alleged that she attempted to chase the suspect, but he escaped on a motorcycle. She said she collapsed outside the residence in a state of distress.

According to the complaint, a nearby woman and her two daughters came to her assistance, provided her with clothing and helped her return to the apartment.

The complainant also alleged that the suspect later returned to the apartment to collect his mobile phone. She said she again confronted him before he fled the scene.

Police were informed about the incident and shifted the woman to the police station before arranging a medical examination.

Medical officials confirmed that forensic samples, including DNA and serology evidence, were collected as part of the investigation. The samples will be sent for laboratory analysis to help establish the facts of the case.

Police later arrested the suspect and said further investigation is underway. Authorities have not released additional details about the accused as the inquiry continues.