Lahore police identify suspects in alleged gang rape of Azerbaijani woman

Lahore Police on Sunday identified suspects allegedly involved in the gang rape of a 20-year-old Azerbaijani woman in the Defence C area and launched efforts to arrest them, police said.

The woman, identified as Diana, had filed a complaint against three unidentified men, following which a case was registered at Defence C police station.

Lahore Investigation Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Zeeshan Raza took immediate notice of the incident and formed special teams headed by Cantt Investigation Superintendent of Police (SP) Asim Iftikhar to arrest the suspects.

Police said the suspects had been identified and that all available resources were being used to apprehend them. DIG Raza said those involved in the serious incident would face legal action without discrimination.

He said all stages of the investigation would be completed on merit and in accordance with the law, adding that all possible aspects of the case were being examined to ensure the suspects were arrested soon.

“I am personally and continuously monitoring progress in the investigation,” Raza said. He also said the suspects would be arrested and dealt with according to the law.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), Diana had arrived in Lahore a few days before the alleged incident.

Read: Lahore police arrests 4 suspects for kidnapping, sexual assault of two foreign women

The report said two unidentified women had lured her to a cafe, where three male friends of the women were already present. After spending some time at the cafe, the group allegedly took Diana to a flat.

The FIR alleged that she was given a drink containing an intoxicating substance at the flat, after which three men allegedly gang-raped her.

The suspects allegedly sexually assaulted her throughout the night before leaving her near the airport and fleeing, according to the FIR. They also allegedly took an iPhone and another expensive mobile phone belonging to Diana, it said.

Police subsequently launched an investigation and began searching for the suspects.

They recovered a vehicle allegedly used in the incident and transferred it to Defence C police station. Investigators were using the vehicle as part of their efforts to trace the main suspects.

A team headed by SP Iftikhar conducted raids to arrest those allegedly involved, police said.

Read more: Four suspects in alleged Peshawar gang rape case killed in attack by unidentified gunmen

Diana underwent a medical examination following the alleged assault. Police said further facts were expected to emerge from the medical report.

This is the second such case registered in the Defence C area in the past months. In July, police rescued two foreign women - one Dutch and one Venezuelan - after receiving an emergency complaint, arrested four suspects, and launched an investigation into allegations of abduction and sexual assault.

The victim said that the women travelled to Pakistan after being invited by an acquaintance they had met in Singapore in October 2025. She added that on June 29, they were abducted by the acquaintance and four accomplices, who demanded money for their release. The complaint further contained allegations of repeated sexual assault, threats with weapons, physical abuse, and extortion.

Reports circulating on social media alleged that one of the suspects was related to an influential political figure.