Lahore police arrest one suspect in alleged gang rape of Azerbaijani woman

Lahore police have arrested one of three prime suspects in the alleged gang rape of a 20-year-old Azerbaijani woman, a senior police official said Monday. Raids are underway to find the other two, who remain at large. The alleged assault took place on the night of Sept. 25.

What happened to the Azerbaijani woman in Lahore?

According to police, the 20-year-old woman, who had traveled to Pakistan for business, was allegedly taken from a cafe to a flat by three men on the night of Sept. 25. She was allegedly given alcohol laced with a sedative and gang-raped. A medical examination has since confirmed sexual assault.

Who has been arrested in the Lahore gang rape case?

The arrested suspect was identified as Mohsin, Lahore DIG Investigation Syed Zeeshan Raza said. He said police were conducting raids at multiple locations and expected to arrest the other two suspects soon.

Raza said the medical examination of the victim had been completed. Her statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was also recorded before a court of competent jurisdiction.

How did the alleged Lahore gang rape unfold?

Police said the woman was allegedly taken to a cafe by two women between 11 p.m. and midnight. Three men at the cafe allegedly convinced her to join them for an outing and took her to a flat.

At about 2 p.m. on Sept. 26, the suspects allegedly dropped her near Ghazi Interchange and took her two phones. She borrowed a phone from a passerby and contacted police. A first information report was registered at Defense C police station, and an investigation was launched.

Is this the first gang rape case involving foreign nationals in Lahore's Defense C area?

No. The case is the second reported incident involving the alleged gang rape of foreign nationals within the jurisdiction of Defense C police station in four months.

In the earlier case, two foreign women were allegedly gang-raped in Lahore's DHA area in late June. Police arrested eight suspects, including Raza Dar, a relative of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. That case is before the courts, and no verdict has been reached.

Police said investigations into the latest case are continuing, while two suspects remain at large.