Azerbaijani woman retracts assault allegations

An Azerbaijani woman who accused three men of sexually assaulting her in Lahore has issued a fresh video

An Azerbaijani woman who accused three men of sexually assaulting her in Lahore has issued a fresh video statement withdrawing her allegations against one suspect and saying she has forgiven the other two. However, Punjab authorities have vowed to pursue the case, citing evidence gathered during the investigation and allegations of attempts to influence the proceedings.

The woman, identified as Diana, travelled to Pakistan in late September for business purposes. She had previously alleged that three men sexually assaulted her at a rented apartment in Lahore’s Defence area after she was offered alcohol.

In her latest video statement, Diana said Ahmed Tanveer had neither assaulted her nor taken her mobile phone. She questioned his arrest and maintained that he had no involvement in the alleged incident. She also claimed that she had been unable to present her position before a court because she was told her life was in danger and was subsequently forced to leave Pakistan.

Diana said she had not been allowed to make decisions freely or express her account as she wished. She added that she had declared Tanveer innocent in documents submitted to the Azerbaijani embassy. She also said she had forgiven the other two suspects, Mohsin and Uzair, and no longer wanted to pursue the matter.

However, police have questioned the circumstances surrounding the new statement, which emerged while the investigation and court proceedings were ongoing.

Deputy Inspector General of Investigation Zeeshan Raza said Diana’s statement had already been recorded before a judicial magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. He described the video circulating on social media as a possible attempt to influence the investigation.

According to the police official, Diana had implicated all three men in her earlier judicial statement. He added that the two arrested suspects had also implicated Tanveer, who would be included in the investigation as police continued examining the evidence.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has also expressed concern over allegations that the suspects’ family attempted to persuade the woman to withdraw her claims. She said the family had allegedly offered her between Rs15 million and Rs20 million despite her earlier statement having been recorded before a magistrate.

In a post on X, Maryam also referred to allegations that a judge who granted bail to one of the accused had accepted a bribe. She said such claims, if established, would raise serious concerns about the justice system and the pressure that survivors of sexual violence may face.

The chief minister pledged to monitor the case closely, stressing that financial resources, influence and personal connections must not allow anyone to escape accountability.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari subsequently confirmed that the provincial government would pursue the matter on behalf of the state. Speaking on a television programme, she also referred to the allegations concerning judicial bribery.

Bukhari said one of the co-accused had reportedly acknowledged the involvement of other individuals named in the case. She added that the first information report also included allegations of kidnapping and robbery alongside the sexual assault claims.

The minister maintained that the available evidence warranted further legal proceedings and said the government would ensure the case was pursued.

Meanwhile, police produced Tanveer before a Model Town court in connection with a separate case involving the alleged abduction and torture of the Azerbaijani woman. Investigators requested that he be sent to jail for an identification parade, while the court reserved its decision. A case against Tanveer and others has been registered at Ichhra police station.

In her earlier statement before a magistrate, the 22-year-old woman said she had travelled from Istanbul to Islamabad before visiting Faisalabad and proceeding to Lahore, from where she intended to continue her journey to Skardu.

She alleged that she contacted two women, identified as Nimra and Muskan, after finding it difficult to travel alone. According to her account, she later met a man named Mohsin, who took her to a separate room, where three men allegedly assaulted her after offering her alcohol.

The woman further alleged that the men took Rs200,000 in cash and her iPhone, threatened her against reporting the incident, and eventually abandoned her by the roadside without her belongings. She subsequently sought assistance and contacted the police.