Logistics firm's staffer threatened to rape, kill: journalist

ISLAMABAD: A journalist has accused a rider from a transport and logistics startup of threatening to rape and kill her.

"Hello @bykeapk one of your riders just threatened to rape and kill me. Wondering if your complaint chat box actually works. because I haven't [received] any response yet," Zebunnisa Burki said in a tweet Sunday night, tagging the company's Twitter handle.

Hello @bykeapk one of your riders just threatened to rape and kill me. Wondering if your complaint chat box actually works. because I haven't recvd any response yet.

— Zebunnisa Burki (@zburki) February 14, 2021

Responding to the message shortly after it was sent, the company said: "Hello Zebunnisa, we truly apologies for the inconvenience this may have caused you. Kindly share your registered number with us via DM along with the booking details."

Hello Zebunnisa, we truly apologies for the inconvenience this may have caused you. Kindly share your registered number with us via DM along with the booking details.

— Bykea - Bike Taxi & Delivery (@bykeapk) February 14, 2021

The journalist later shared an update, saying she had managed to get in touch with the company's complaint centre and added Bykea had permanently removed the man from their service.

I'm fine. Spoke with the Bykea complaint centre. They are extending all the help they can (have permanently removed the man from their service); and I am looking into further action -- or not...[not sure tbh]. Thank you, folks, for the tweets. https://t.co/Akl7SMsD4D

— Zebunnisa Burki (@zburki) February 14, 2021

In a follow-up tweet sent Monday, Burki said: "The @bykeapk people (staff and management) have been very extremely helpful and have taken this as seriously as one would have wanted. Thank you to everyone who helped and messaged."

Update: the @bykeapk people (staff and management) have been very extremely helpful and have taken this as seriously as one would have wanted. Thank you to everyone who helped and messaged.

— Zebunnisa Burki (@zburki) February 15, 2021

In a statement issued late on Monday, the company said the "driver has been permanently blocked and strict action has been taken."

"We continue to investigate this further and work on serious measures to ensure customer satisfaction," it added.