LAHORE: A judicial statement recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by an Azerbaijani woman who alleges that she was sexually assaulted in Lahore’s Defence area has come to light, detailing her account of the incident and the events that allegedly followed.
According to the statement, the woman identified herself as Diana, 22, and said she was from Azerbaijan. She arrived in Islamabad from Istanbul on the 13th, travelled to Faisalabad and stayed there for five days before coming to Lahore. She said she had planned to travel to Skardu but abandoned the plan because she was travelling alone.
Meeting at a Café
According to her account, Diana contacted two acquaintances, Nimra and Muskan, and arranged to meet them. She said she arrived alone at a café at around 11pm, where she met Muskan. Muskan allegedly told her that Nimra was waiting elsewhere, after which the two went to meet her.
At around 2am, while they were having food, two men identified as Mohsin and Ahmed arrived in a vehicle. Nimra also invited them to join them for the meal. The group subsequently went to an apartment, where two other men were allegedly present, one of whom was identified as Ali Aziz.
Dispute Over Money
Diana alleged that Nimra took between Rs20,000 and Rs30,000 from Mohsin and attempted to hand the money to her, but she refused to accept it.
She said she later asked about Nimra and Muskan and was told that they had already left. When she asked to leave as well, she alleged that the men stopped her, saying she could not leave because their friend had already taken money.
According to her statement, she offered to pay Rs30,000 from her own money, but the men allegedly told her that their friend had taken a much larger amount.
Diana further alleged that Ali Aziz threatened to call police emergency service 15. She said she told him to make the call, as she was willing to speak to the police.
Alleged Sexual Assault
According to the statement, when police did not arrive after about five minutes, she insisted on leaving. She alleged that the men told her they had ordered alcohol and suggested that she drink with them.
She said she asked whether she would be allowed to leave after drinking, to which she received an affirmative response. However, after she again asked to leave, she alleged that she was told to sleep there and leave after the effects of alcohol had worn off.
Diana alleged that Mohsin, Ahmed and Ali Aziz subsequently sexually assaulted her.
She further alleged that the men forced her into a vehicle and took her to an unidentified location. According to her account, they attempted to keep her iPhone and Rs200,000 in cash on the condition that she would not report the incident to police.
She alleged that the men later opened the door of the moving vehicle and pushed her out. She said she was left without her belongings and eventually sought help from passersby, who assisted her in contacting the police.
Police Investigation
Meanwhile, police have arrested a woman allegedly suspected of facilitating the incident. Law enforcement officials said the two mobile phones belonging to the Azerbaijani woman have not yet been recovered.
Two main suspects have so far been taken into custody, while raids are being conducted at various locations to trace and arrest a third suspect who remains at large.
The investigation is ongoing, and the allegations contained in the woman’s judicial statement are subject to the legal process and further investigation.
