Lahore Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 20-year-old Azerbaijani woman, while investigators continue efforts to trace another suspect in the case.
The case was registered at Defence C Police Station after the Azerbaijani woman alleged that three men sexually assaulted her after she was taken to a private apartment in Lahore. Police subsequently formed special investigation teams to identify and arrest those allegedly involved.
The woman, who had travelled to Pakistan for business purposes, recorded her statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before a judicial magistrate at the Cantonment Courts in Lahore. According to reports of her statement, she alleged that she met two women at a café before travelling with men in a vehicle to an apartment, where she said she was given an intoxicating substance and sexually assaulted.
Police have said that a medical examination was conducted and forensic samples were collected. Investigators are also examining CCTV footage and other evidence as part of the inquiry. Police earlier recovered a vehicle allegedly linked to the incident and detained several people during the investigation.
Two suspects were subsequently arrested and produced before a Lahore court. On September 29, a judicial magistrate granted police six-day physical remand of the two men to facilitate further investigation, including DNA testing. Police said a third suspect had also been identified and efforts were continuing to locate him.
Police had also sought to place the names of the suspected men on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) as part of efforts to prevent them from leaving the country while the investigation continued.
The investigation includes examination of forensic material, CCTV footage and other evidence. Police officials have said legal action will be taken against anyone found involved on the basis of evidence.
Authorities have also urged the public not to circulate unverified personal information about the complainant. Claims about her private life or alleged connections that have appeared on social media have not been confirmed by police.
The case remains under investigation, and the allegations against the suspects have not been finally determined by a court. Further forensic findings and the ongoing investigation are expected to establish the circumstances of the incident and determine the next legal steps.
