LAHORE, September 29, 2026 (Digital Itla) — Police in Lahore have arrested one suspect in a case involving the alleged gang rape of a 20-year-old woman from Azerbaijan, while teams are conducting raids to locate two other suspects, police said. According to a statement issued by Lahore Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Investigation Zeeshan Raza, one suspect has been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault. Police said the woman underwent a medical examination, which found evidence consistent with sexual assault. Police said the investigation is continuing and efforts are underway to arrest the other suspects.
Woman Records Statement Before Magistrate
The Azerbaijani woman appeared before a competent court and recorded her statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. According to her statement, she arrived in Pakistan from Istanbul on Sept. 13 and stayed in Islamabad and Faisalabad before travelling to Lahore. She said she had planned to visit Skardu but contacted two women because she was travelling alone. The woman told the court that on the night of Sept. 25, she met one of the women at a cafe. She said she later accompanied the woman to an area in Bahria Town, where they spent some time. According to her account, a white car arrived around 2 a.m. with two men inside. She said they subsequently went to an apartment where two more men later arrived.
Woman's Account of the Incident
According to the statement recorded before the court, the woman alleged that one of the women accompanying her received money from one of the men and told her that it was for party expenses. The woman said she told them she did not need money or alcohol and wanted to leave. According to her account, one of the men attempted to touch her and took her to a separate room. She alleged that when she asked about the two women, she was told that they had left and that she could not leave because her friend had taken money. The woman told the court that she offered to pay 30,000 Pakistani rupees so that she could leave, but alleged that one of the men threatened and blackmailed her. She further alleged that she was pressured to drink alcohol before two men sexually assaulted her. The allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.
Allegation of Drugging
According to the FIR, the woman told police that the suspects allegedly mixed a sedative into alcohol and gave it to her before the alleged assaults. The claim forms part of the police investigation. Its final determination will depend on forensic evidence, the investigation and subsequent judicial proceedings.
Cash and Mobile Phones Allegedly Taken
The woman told police that after the alleged incident, she was taken in a vehicle and later dropped at an undisclosed location. According to the FIR, she alleged that the suspects kept her iPhone 13 Pro Max, Redmi mobile phone and around 200,000 Pakistani rupees in cash. She also alleged that the suspects warned her against contacting police and threatened her when she said she would report the incident. The woman said she was eventually dropped from the vehicle and sought help from a passerby, using the person's phone to contact police.
FIR Registered in Lahore
The Azerbaijani woman registered a case at Lahore's Defence C police station on Sept. 26. According to the FIR, she told police that she was from Baku and had travelled to Pakistan for business purposes. She said she had been in Pakistan for around two weeks before the alleged incident. Police registered the case under Section 375-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, which relates to gang rape, and launched an investigation.
Police Action
DIG Investigation Zeeshan Raza confirmed the arrest of one suspect and said police teams were conducting operations at different locations to apprehend the other two suspects. Police said evidence related to the case is being collected and that the woman's medical examination, statements and other available evidence are being considered as part of the investigation. Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of all suspects.
Investigation Continues
Investigators are examining the alleged location of the incident, the vehicle reportedly used, mobile phone evidence and other material that could help establish what happened. Police are also investigating how many people were involved and the circumstances under which the woman was taken to the alleged location. The woman's statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure forms part of the legal proceedings. The allegations against the suspects have not been tested in court, and they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due legal process.
Previous Case Involving Foreign Women
The case is among recent incidents in Lahore involving allegations of sexual violence against foreign women. In June, police also investigated a case involving two foreign women who alleged they had been abducted and sexually assaulted. Police subsequently announced arrests in that case. Police said the two cases are separate and that the current investigation is continuing on the basis of evidence collected in the Azerbaijani woman's case.
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