Diana case: Rs20m bribery claim, Dubai video spark controversy

LAHORE: The case involving an Azerbaijani woman, Diana, has drawn renewed attention following a video recorded in Dubai, allegations of a Rs20 million deal and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s public remarks about an alleged attempt to bribe a judge.

According to details cited by Minute Mirror, official police and court records have become central to the dispute, while allegations circulating on social media against the Sharif family, Ishaq Dar, Ali Dar and senior Punjab police officials remain contested.

The allegations concerning a possible financial deal and judicial interference have not been independently established in the material provided.

FIR 2446/26: Allegations and Investigation

An FIR was registered at Lahore’s Defence C Police Station on September 26, 2026, following a complaint by Diana. The complainant accused Ahmed Tanveer and two associates, identified as Mohsin and Ali Zain, of rape.

Police arrested Ahmed Tanveer, and his statement was recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The report also states that the accused confessed during the investigation.

The supplied FIR details do not mention the Sharif family, Ishaq Dar, Ali Dar or the senior police officers named in online allegations.

Dubai Video Sparks Controversy

A video allegedly recorded in Dubai has circulated on social media in which Diana reportedly declared Ahmed Tanveer innocent, said her phones had not been snatched and claimed that she had forgiven him. She also referred to alleged actions involving her passport, placement on the Exit Control List (ECL) and deportation.

Separately, police sources cited in the report alleged that the accused’s father travelled from London to Azerbaijan and then met Diana in Dubai, where a video was allegedly produced following a Rs20 million deal intended to undermine her earlier statement.

The financial allegation has not been independently verified. The video’s circumstances and its legal implications remain matters requiring examination by the relevant authorities.

Defence Lawyer Rejects Allegations

Defence lawyer Safdar Shaheen denied visiting Azerbaijan or meeting or speaking to Diana by telephone. He described allegations of bribery involving himself and a judge as a media trial.

Police Say Proceedings Will Continue

DIG Investigation Zeeshan Asghar told Minute Mirror that investigators viewed the Dubai video as an organised attempt to influence the case. He alleged that information available to police pointed to a Rs20 million deal.

He maintained that Diana’s Section 164 statement remained part of the court record and that the proceedings would continue on merit, even if she subsequently changed her position.

These assertions represent the police officer’s stated position and have not, on the information provided, been independently substantiated.

Court Proceedings and Remand

According to the report, a court order dated October 23 recorded the appearance of DSP Qamar Abbas and SI Faryal Malik in connection with Ahmed Tanveer’s allegation that several vehicles had been taken away and that he was being implicated in another case. The officers reportedly denied the existence of another FIR against him and said he would not be arrested in another case on that basis.

The accused joined the investigation in court, and the decision on his bail was reserved until October 27, 2026.

In a separate kidnapping case, Ahmed Tanveer, his brother Ehtisham and another associate were reportedly sent on 14 days’ judicial remand for an identification parade. The court directed that the parade report be presented on November 9.

The proceedings in the two cases are separate and should not be treated as a determination of guilt in the rape case.

Maryam Nawaz Calls for Action Over Alleged Bribery

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said she had been informed that an offer of Rs15 million to Rs20 million had been made in connection with the case and that an attempt had allegedly been made to bribe a judge.

She said she would submit the evidence to the chief justice of the Lahore High Court, adding that Punjab would maintain zero tolerance for violence against women, regardless of their nationality.

Her remarks prompted a response from Lahore High Court Bar Association President Babar Murtaza, who said that any evidence should be presented before the court. He also called for the matter to be taken up with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and said the chief justice should consider appropriate action.

Questions Over Social Media Allegations

The report disputes claims that senior political figures and Punjab police officials intervened to protect the accused, arguing that the available FIR and court records do not establish the alleged connections.

However, the absence of names from an FIR does not, by itself, settle every allegation of possible interference. Any claims of bribery, political involvement or misconduct should be assessed through documentary evidence and an independent legal process.

The case now faces two important dates: October 27, when the bail decision is expected, and November 9, when the identification parade report is due in the separate kidnapping case.

The central questions remain whether the allegations of financial inducement can be substantiated, how the Dubai video will be assessed by the court and whether the investigation will establish the facts on the basis of admissible evidence.