Diana rape case: Accused seeks recovery from alleged illegal police custody, fears fake encounter

An application seeking the immediate recovery of Muhammad Ahmad Tanvir, an accused in the high-profile Diana gang-rape case, has been filed

LAHORE: An application seeking the immediate recovery of Muhammad Ahmad Tanvir, an accused in the high-profile Diana gang-rape case, has been filed before the Sessions Court Lahore, alleging that police took him into custody shortly after he was granted interim pre-arrest bail on October 23.

The application raises concerns over the accused’s alleged detention despite court protection and expresses apprehensions that he could be subjected to physical torture or killed in a staged police encounter.

The plea has been filed through Advocate Supreme Court Muhammad Safdar Shaheen Pirzada. According to court records exclusively available with Minute Mirror, the matter relates to FIR No. 2446/26, registered on September 26, 2026, at Defence-C Police Station, Lahore, under sections 375-A, 337-J, 371-A, 506-B, 392 and 365-B of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Court proceedings on October 23

The pre-arrest bail petition, titled Muhammad Ahmad Tanvir versus The State (CMS No. 260793526), was heard on October 23 by Additional Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ali Gondal.

The petitioner appeared with his counsels, Mian Javed Iqbal and Muhammad Safdar Shaheen Pirzada. Rao Muhammad Asghar Advocate represented the complainant, while DDPP Habib-ur-Rehman and ADPP Mehwish Farooq appeared on behalf of the state. DSP Qamar Abbas and investigation officer SI Faryal Malik also attended the proceedings with the relevant record.

During the hearing, Tanvir reportedly told the court that he had been unable to join the investigation because police had repeatedly raided his residence and allegedly taken five vehicles from his home. He also expressed fear of being arrested in another case.

According to the court proceedings, the investigating officer and DSP Qamar Abbas confirmed that no other FIR was registered against the petitioner and assured the court that he would not be arrested if he joined the investigation.

Following the assurance, the court directed Tanvir to join the investigation within the court premises. His statement was recorded, and he was questioned there.

The judge subsequently adjourned the main bail petition until October 27 for completion of the investigation, arguments and further proceedings. The court also extended his interim pre-arrest bail protection and directed Security In-charge Inspector Habib Khan to ensure his safe passage within the court premises.

Meanwhile, the complainant’s counsel submitted a separate application seeking permission to record Diana’s statement before the investigating officer through a video link. A copy of the application was provided to the prosecutor.

Accused alleges detention outside court

In the fresh recovery application, titled Application for the Immediate Recovery of the Petitioner from Illegal Custody and for Extension of Extra-Judicial Protection to Prevent a Fake Police Encounter, the petitioner alleges that police took him into custody immediately after he left the Sessions Court premises.

The plea states that Tanvir had already expressed apprehensions about being arrested upon leaving the courtroom. It claims that local police officials subsequently took him away and shifted him to an undisclosed location despite the court’s interim bail order.

The application further expresses fears that the petitioner could face physical torture or be killed in an alleged staged police encounter, urging the court to intervene urgently to protect his life and liberty.

Relief sought from court

Through the application, the petitioner has requested the Sessions Court to take immediate judicial notice of the alleged detention, direct the police to recover him safely and produce him before the court, and restrain officials from harming him or subjecting him to a fake encounter.

He has also sought protection against arrest in any other allegedly fabricated case.

The Sessions Court is expected to take up the recovery application for hearing. The allegations of illegal detention and the apprehension of a staged encounter remain claims made in the application and have not been independently established.