Suspects in Canadian expat's harassment case arrested in Islamabad

E-Paper | October 01, 2026

Suspects in Canadian expat's harassment case arrested in Islamabad

Shakeel Qarar Published April 18, 2019

Canadian expat Assma Galuta alleged the two men had harassed her and told her to get into their car, following her from Bahria Town to Islamabad when she refused. ─ Photo courtesy Shakeel Qarar

comments

Join our Whatsapp Channel

Add Dawn as a trusted source

Two men were arrested in Islamabad on Thursday over their alleged sexual harassment of a Canadian expat.

Superintendent Police (SP) Rural Omer Khan said the suspects, identified as Hamza Sohail and Anas Kamran, were taken into custody and identified by Lahore-based model and humanitarian worker Assma Galuta, who had filed a case against them after the two began harassing her and telling her to get into their car in the Bahria Town Phase 7 area.

Explore: The Canadian model who filed a harassment case in Islamabad slams critics for victim-blaming

In the FIR filed on April 16, Galuta stated that when she asked them to leave her alone, they started laughing. She accused them of blocking her from getting into her Uber and then followed her from Bahria Town to Islamabad. They also tried to block the driver and asked him for his passenger's drop-off location, the FIR said.

Galuta said in the FIR that she had to change her drop-off location and evade the suspects in a mall until they were gone before she could return to her lodgings. She added that she had video and vehicle details as proof.

The suspects were booked under Sections 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment), 354 (assault or use of criminal force to woman and stripping her of her clothes), and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The suspects' car was taken into custody by police yesterday, SP Khan added.

Violence against women

Shakeel Qarar is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn News (TV), having been with the organization since 2012. His reporting covers crime, law and order, and security, with a specific focus on the Ministry of Interior and its subordinate agencies. He can be found on X at @Qarar009.

The Canadian model who filed a harassment case in Islamabad slams critics for victim-blaming

Canadian expat files case against 2 men in Islamabad for sexually harassing her

A rising movement

Why do women walk so briskly in public?

We need to be honest, Pakistan is not an easy country to travel in: travel blogger Alex

What is it about a girl cycling that says 'come harass me'?

junaid

Apr 18, 2019 11:39am

Very good. These two should not be spared and they should be made an example of so others should not do these things.

Recommend 0

Asim

Apr 18, 2019 11:39am

They deserve long term jail to teach others lesson to avoid harassing tourists.

Recommend 0

concerned

Apr 18, 2019 11:43am

Good that the Police acted quickly. Keep it up.

Recommend 0

Chowkidar

Apr 18, 2019 11:48am

This lady deserves to be praised for having the presence of mind to evade them and collect evidence against them which will ensure such people think twice before doing such acts.

Recommend 0

Dove

Apr 18, 2019 11:51am

Please treat them well for their toxic masculinity!

Recommend 0

Chinpaksaddique

Apr 18, 2019 11:51am

Only under PMIK we get good investigative moves

Recommend 0

Ishrat salim

Apr 18, 2019 11:52am

Good action by police who was helped by the victims presence of mind who got all details of the accused. People especially females must learn from this.

Recommend 0

Imtiaz Ali Khan

Apr 18, 2019 11:59am

Mess with wrong lady this time how many did you think will remain quite, these man are in big trouble. Good going make them example for others out there. We can't have this behavior. Pakistan needs to step back from the man dominated society, equal rights for all for all humans.

Recommend 0

IRSHAD NOOR

Apr 18, 2019 12:03pm

Lucky, you are a Canadian national.

Recommend 0

Ahmed

Apr 18, 2019 12:06pm

Seems like a canadian gets swift justice in our country. I'm happy for her. However, can our own women expect such a quick action by police and filing of FIR, followed by arrest of alleged criminals and levying of multiple charges?

Recommend 0

adil

Apr 18, 2019 12:15pm

make an example out of them.

Recommend 0

Tariq Zaim

Apr 18, 2019 12:17pm

Would the same action been taken if the girl was a regular pakistani? Is this being done because she is a "Canadian Model" -- what if she was a regular pakistani girl minding her own business and she would have been similarly harassed? I am very glad that action has been taken and salute the Canadian Model for her bravery and for doing the right thing -- hats off to her I just wish that the same action is taken for every girl in pakistan -- including hindu sikh christian hazari and ahmadi girls

Recommend 0

Preface

Apr 18, 2019 12:19pm

Even if they are suspects, their faces should be shown. If the prosecution fails due to their incompetence, these guys will remain hidden from the public.

Recommend 0

urooj saifi

Apr 18, 2019 12:21pm

If proven guilty give them a few lashes in public so others learn a lesson. This thing is becoming very common in Pakistan specially in Islamabad, Lahore and holiday destinations and no female of any age is spared by these hooligans

Recommend 0

Ahmed

Apr 18, 2019 12:29pm

great!

Recommend 0

Hasan Siftain

Apr 18, 2019 12:32pm

Good, Make the example out of them. Desi girl must take courage and report harassment cases for speedy justice.

Recommend 0

fairplay

Apr 18, 2019 12:36pm

@urooj saifi, agree.

Recommend 0

fairplay

Apr 18, 2019 12:37pm

@Tariq Zaim , agree.

Recommend 0

Apr 18, 2019 12:41pm

Good work. The potential to perform is there but the whole system is rusted. Police unlike its reputation captured the culprits and now they would be granted bail and no chances that they would ever be punished.

Recommend 0

Truth

Apr 18, 2019 12:53pm

Cheap publicity stunt, probably staged by a failed model, who could not find fame or fortune in Canada, so returns to the motherland, to get into movie or fashion industry. After failing in that attempt she created this drama to get some much-needed attention to boost her profile and career! I have my suspicions as to her motives.

Recommend 0

Tiger Singh

Apr 18, 2019 12:55pm

India needs to learn from this. Exemplary work indeed.

Recommend 0

Tiger Singh

Apr 18, 2019 12:56pm

Cheers, Khan Sahb.

Recommend 0

Mahmood

Apr 18, 2019 01:10pm

If these guys are connected, then expect them to walk free. It was probably a staged drama.

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Apr 18, 2019 01:41pm

Great action by the greenshirts police which proves beyond any reasonable doubt that if they sincerely and dedicatedly want to catch the culprits, they can do it in no time unless and until their top-notch hierarchy start interfering and forcing them to do otherwise.

Recommend 0

Majid

Apr 18, 2019 01:56pm

@junaid, Well said. I wholeheartedly support you.

Recommend 0

Majid

Apr 18, 2019 01:59pm

@urooj saifi, What you mean by " if proven guilty". They are guilty when the Police have got all the evidence.

Recommend 0

M. Saeed

Apr 18, 2019 02:15pm

Very quick police action. Now, even quicker legal action is required without any fear or favor of any. The culprits deserve examplary punishment well displayed on media for others to get a deterrence.

Recommend 0

Daskalos

Apr 18, 2019 02:21pm

@Tariq Zaim , ameen.

Recommend 0

Mansoor Ellahi

Apr 18, 2019 03:09pm

They harm our national image. Stern action required.

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Apr 18, 2019 03:31pm

Good. Make an example of them. Make sure the Police officials who did not take the initial report seriously are sacked or disciplined and then sent of retraining

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Apr 18, 2019 03:33pm

@Ahmed, Agree every one should be equal under the eyes of the law. Problem is Pakistan is such a patriarchal society the Police she approached first did not take any action upon her first complaint. Only when it came in the press did they act.

Recommend 0

Farooq Siddiqui

Apr 18, 2019 03:35pm

What action has been taken regarding policemen who were asking for bribes for registration of the FIR ?

Recommend 0

Janjua

Apr 18, 2019 04:14pm

Dont let them come out of jail for 10 yyears

Recommend 0

Mazhar.A.Khan

Apr 18, 2019 04:30pm

Very commendable action from the police. Punish these culprits. No wonder our women's are scared from these goons & their sexual harassment.

Recommend 0

Apr 18, 2019 04:41pm

They will go free if they have connections or the news dies down and they pay a bribe. Its that easy..

Recommend 0

Abuzar

Apr 18, 2019 04:58pm

so Far, best news of the day

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Apr 18, 2019 05:28pm

They should be treated well in a police station so that they cannot attempt such things in future

Recommend 0

Raj patel

Apr 18, 2019 05:42pm

Out come??

Recommend 0

K Ahmad

Apr 18, 2019 05:51pm

Very good. These things cannot be tolerated and responsible guys should be punished. Unfortunately these things are generally ignored which should not be the case. Harassment, stalking has to be punished. We can no longer ignore this as it ahs become more common these days with social media widely available

Recommend 0

Ehsan

Apr 18, 2019 06:14pm

Why were their faces blurred.

Recommend 0

Syed Arslan

Apr 18, 2019 06:28pm

Weldone lady. Appreciate your action against 2 boys. They must be punished harsh so that othera will learn a lesson. Respect women and just Respect women.

Recommend 0

Tuk

Apr 18, 2019 06:32pm

@Tariq Zaim , this happened because she used social media, then mainstream media picked up, only then police registered FIR. Orherwise she was told to go to police station an hour away. So no thanks to police. Being canadian might be a factor but she still needed to go through a lot .

Recommend 0

Shahid

Apr 18, 2019 06:33pm

Good act. Do this too when some poor women in rural areas are harassed, only then will the masses see a justice being done and served without discrimination.

Recommend 0

Millake

Apr 18, 2019 06:35pm

How do we expect tourism to thrive with this mindset? We have to educate boys at a young age to respect women.

Recommend 0

Apr 18, 2019 06:42pm

Lucky she was a Foreign national not a Pakistani.

Recommend 0

Arshy

Apr 18, 2019 06:49pm

@Truth, shame on u ... this is toxic all over South Asia

Recommend 0

Alishba

Apr 18, 2019 06:58pm

@Truth, Motherland? She is Tunisian raised in Canada, married to Pakistani and now settled in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

thinking

Apr 18, 2019 07:40pm

@Asim, Not tourists alone, they should not harass any women, including pakistani women.

Recommend 0

thinking

Apr 18, 2019 07:43pm

@Truth, You must be honoured by all. What a great analysis and thought

Recommend 0

Anis

Apr 18, 2019 08:00pm

I don't understand why our media chooses to blur faces of perpetrators, while showing the face of the victim. I am from Toronto, I have never seen such a stupid practice. Perpetrators should be named and shamed openly and victims should be protected. Toronto, Canada

Recommend 0

Amjad Durrani Engineer USA.

Apr 18, 2019 08:15pm

What a joke that none of the listed out sections(342, 511, 354, 506) under which the suspects have been charged, does not relate to the offense as reported by the victim. For sure this case will drag on till it looses its steam. It is mind boggling that our colonial era penal code, even does not contain a relevant section to be applied this modern offense, on the rise in our urban areas. Realistically speaking, with MeToo movement becoming universal, we need to revisit our penal code and make amendment to make it commensurate with modern day requirement to provide safety and security to working women against sexual harassment. Sooner it done the better it is.

Recommend 0

RationalBabu

Apr 18, 2019 08:52pm

@Tariq Zaim, no chance of that!

Recommend 0

Must learn

Apr 19, 2019 07:47am

The car used in chase by these criminals be impounded. Their parents identify must also be disclosed.

Recommend 0

Achakzai

Apr 19, 2019 03:42pm

She should have not accepted their apology and the accused should have been punished for the wrongdoing

Recommend 0

Ayub

Apr 19, 2019 10:49pm

They should be handed over to Canadian authority for prosection under their system.

Recommend 0

Salman Khan

Apr 20, 2019 08:56am

This shows what's possible when the police actually do their jobs. Investigations into such simple cases should take a few hours, not a few months!

Recommend 0

Branded Content

28 years of McDonald’s Pakistan: celebrating the local partners behind the Golden Arches

The milestone highlighted the structural evolution of the company's local procurement model.

Etihad Town Sialkot delivers Possession ahead of time

The project was delivered within just 1.5 years against a 3-year payment plan, while commercial possession had already been handed over to customers in January 2026.