LAHORE: A 22-year-old Azerbaijani woman has alleged before a judicial magistrate that she was sexually assaulted by three men at a rented flat in Lahore’s Defence area after being made to consume alcohol.
The woman recorded her statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on Monday, with details of her testimony emerging on Tuesday.
According to police, two suspects have been arrested in connection with the case, while raids are under way to apprehend a third. Investigators are also attempting to recover two mobile phones belonging to the complainant.
In her statement before the magistrate, the woman said she had travelled from Istanbul to Islamabad on the 13th for business purposes before proceeding to Faisalabad, where she stayed for five days. She later travelled to Lahore and had planned to visit Skardu.
The complainant said she contacted two women, identified as Nimra and Muskan, after deciding that she could not continue travelling alone.
She said she met Muskan at a cafe at around 11pm and was subsequently taken to meet Nimra. According to her account, two men later arrived in a vehicle while the group was having food.
The woman alleged that Nimra received between Rs20,000 and Rs30,000 from a man identified as Mohsin and offered the money to her, which she refused.
She further alleged that she was later taken to a separate room where other men were present. When she asked about the two women, she was allegedly told they had already left.
According to her statement, she repeatedly asked to leave but was prevented from doing so. She alleged that one of the men attempted to intimidate and blackmail her.
The complainant told the magistrate that the men subsequently offered her alcohol and indicated that she would be allowed to leave if she drank with them. She alleged that after consuming alcohol, she was told to remain there until its effects had worn off.
She then accused three men of sexually assaulting her.
The woman further alleged that she was later taken away in a vehicle. She said she had Rs200,000 in Pakistani currency and an iPhone with her and was told that her belongings would only be returned if she did not approach police.
According to her statement, she was eventually pushed out of the vehicle without her belongings. She sought assistance from people nearby and contacted police.
Police investigations into the allegations are continuing, while efforts are also under way to recover the complainant’s missing belongings and arrest the remaining suspect. The allegations against the accused remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.
