Five Cleared of Assault Charges in Lahore Women Case

An incomplete police investigation report filed before a Lahore trial court has cleared five suspects of sexual assault charges in the case of two foreign women, while charging three others with sexually assaulting them. The report concerns events alleged to have taken place in July 2026.

The five cleared suspects were still implicated in illegal detention and extortion. The three charged suspects were allegedly low-paid employees of one key suspect, Dawn reported.

Defence C police registered the first information report in July under Pakistan Penal Code sections covering kidnapping for extortion, rape, causing disappearance of evidence, wrongful confinement and other hurt. The case has drawn attention because one cleared suspect was reportedly linked to a senior minister.

Lahore women case: what the police report says

The report said the complainants met one of the three prime suspects in Singapore in 2025 and invited him to invest in their cryptocurrency business. After returns on his first investment, he invested a further $500,000, but the women paid him no profits and did not return his investment.

In June, the suspect invited the women to Pakistan on the pretext of arranging a meeting with another investor. They stayed at a hotel in Islamabad and travelled to Murree.

On June 29, the women were taken to a house in Defence Phase VII, Lahore, where they were allegedly detained and pressured to pay. Police said they were forced to transfer around $19,500, converted into rupees through a Lahore-based account. Of this, Rs1.1 million each reportedly went to two suspects.

The report said the complainants alleged that armed men guarded them at the house and threatened them if they failed to meet the demands. It said the statements of the complainants and the investigation indicated that three suspects had committed sexual assault. Police said they found no evidence of sexual assault against the other five suspects, including the relative of the political figure and the suspect identified as “boss”.

The women escaped on July 1, when a car taking them to the airport met with an accident near Bhatta Chowk. They raised an alarm, the relative of the senior political figure fled, and police took them into protection. They departed Pakistan on July 3.

Police also claimed to have recovered Rs4.3 million allegedly extorted from the women, a mobile phone and a vehicle allegedly used in the crime. Pistols and a rifle were also recovered, leading to separate Arms Ordinance cases.

Why the challan is incomplete

A further suspect was accused of renting the house without informing the authorities, and another of helping to destroy evidence. Sections covering wrongful confinement and causing disappearance of evidence were added on these grounds.

Medical examinations were conducted, Section 164 statements were recorded before a magistrate, and DNA, fingerprint and polygraph tests were carried out. Call data records were also obtained.

Punjab Forensic Science Agency reports were still awaited, the report said. Police therefore filed an incomplete investigation report, known as a challan, to avoid delays, despite what they described as sufficient evidence. An incomplete challan lets a trial move forward while forensic results are pending.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ali Gondal has distributed copies of the report among the suspects and fixed November 11 for the next hearing. Police asked the court to summon the suspects through notices.

Advocate Salman Shahid, counsel for two of the suspects charged with sexual assault, accused police of favouring the key suspects. He claimed his clients, low-paid employees of one key suspect, had been made scapegoats. One worked as janitorial staff at the property, he said.

In July, Lahore Deputy Inspector General Operations Faisal Kamran said police had been ordered to treat a suspect reportedly linked to a senior minister like any other criminal. He said a criminal gang may have been behind the incident, and vowed police would leave no legal loophole favouring the suspect.

The next hearing will test whether the investigation treated the prime suspects and their employees alike. For context, see the recent police action in Gujrat, as reported here: Gujrat Student Gang Suspect Held by Police. The Supreme Court recently ruled on the private conduct of civil servants, as reported here: Civil Servant Private Conduct Can Be Misconduct, Rules Court. A separate Lahore bail case involving Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha was also before the courts this week, as reported here: Imaan Hadi ATC Bail in Road Blockade Case.

What happens next

The court will take up the case again on November 11. Forensic reports may still be pending, and defence claims about scapegoating are likely to be pressed. Until the trial tests the evidence, the charges remain allegations, not findings of guilt.

Frequently asked questions

What did the incomplete challan say?

It cleared five suspects of sexual assault charges, implicated them in illegal detention and extortion, and charged three other suspects with sexual assault.

Why is the challan incomplete?

Punjab Forensic Science Agency reports were still awaited, so police filed the report to avoid delays, with a supplementary report to follow.

When is the next hearing?

Additional District and Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ali Gondal fixed November 11 for the next hearing.

What do the defence lawyers claim?

Advocate Salman Shahid claimed his two clients were low-paid employees of a key suspect and had been made scapegoats.

When did the women leave Pakistan?

The two women departed Pakistan on July 3, after escaping on July 1 and being taken into police protection.