Azerbaijani woman alleges sexual assault after being taken to undisclosed location in Lahore 

Lahore Police have registered a case and launched an investigation after a 20-year-old Azerbaijani woman alleged

LAHORE: Lahore Police have registered a case and launched an investigation after a 20-year-old Azerbaijani woman alleged that she was sexually assaulted, intoxicated and robbed by unidentified men after being taken to an undisclosed location in Lahore’s Defence area.

According to the FIR, registered at Defence (C) Police Station on September 26, 2026, the case has been lodged under Sections 375-A and 337-J of the Pakistan Penal Code. The complainant is an Azerbaijani national who was reportedly visiting Pakistan for business purposes.

According to her statement recorded in the FIR, the alleged incident occurred during the night between September 25 and 26.

The woman told police that she had gone to a cafe with two unidentified women. She alleged that she was later taken away by three unidentified men on the pretext of going for a drive.

The complainant further alleged that an intoxicating substance was administered to her during the incident, after which she was sexually assaulted.

According to her account, the suspects subsequently abandoned her near Ghazi Interchange at around 4:00am on September 26. She also alleged that the men took two mobile phones belonging to her before leaving the area.

After being left near the interchange, the woman reportedly sought help from a passerby and used the person’s mobile phone to contact the police emergency helpline 15.

She later approached police and submitted a written application seeking legal action against those responsible.

Police sources said investigators have made progress in the case and obtained CCTV recordings from the reported crime scene and other identified locations. The footage has reportedly been examined as part of efforts to establish the movements and identities of the individuals allegedly involved.

Officials said identification and searches for the suspects are continuing with the help of available evidence, including technical data.

Police also confirmed that the required legal procedures have been completed, including the medical examination of the complainant.

Authorities have also facilitated the woman’s contact with the relevant Azerbaijani embassy to provide consular assistance during the investigation.

Special police teams have been constituted to trace and arrest the suspects, while efforts are underway to collect additional evidence and establish the sequence of events.

Investigators are examining the woman’s movements before and after the alleged incident and are also attempting to identify the two women who were reportedly accompanying her at the cafe.

Police are further examining CCTV footage from the cafe, surrounding roads, commercial areas and other relevant locations. Technical evidence is also being analysed to help trace the mobile phones allegedly taken from the complainant.

Officials said the investigation would proceed strictly according to law and that further legal action would be taken after all available evidence is collected and examined.

No arrests had been officially announced at the time of filing this report.

The allegations recorded in the FIR have not been independently established in court. Police said the complainant’s statement would form part of the investigation, while the final determination of responsibility would depend on the evidence gathered by investigators and subsequent proceedings before the competent authorities and courts.