Azeri woman rape case: Judge recuses himself from hearing after CM’s remarks

LAHORE: Additional Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ali Gondal has recused himself from hearing interim bail plea of one of the accused in the alleged rape case involving an Azerbaijani woman, following Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s statement about allegations of financial pressure on the complainant and bribery of a judge.

According to the accused’s lawyer, the case file has been sent to the sessions judge, who will assign it to another judge in consultation with the Lahore High Court.

The lawyer said the high court had summoned the complete case record following the chief minister’s statement, but returned it to the sessions court on Monday.

Proceedings on the accused’s interim bail were scheduled for Tuesday.

Maryam had earlier said allegations had emerged that the accused’s wealthy family offered the woman between Rs15 million and Rs20 million to withdraw her allegations, despite her statement having been recorded before a judicial magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

She also referred to allegations that the judge who granted bail to the accused had been bribed, saying that, if true, the claims raised serious questions about the integrity of the justice system and the vulnerability of rape survivors to financial pressure.

The case has drawn further attention after the woman, identified as Diana, released a video statement declaring AT* innocent. In the video, she said that AT* had neither assaulted her nor taken her mobile phone, adding that he had returned her phone and belongings. She appealed for the case against him to be closed.

“I had given statements earlier under pressure,” she said in the video, without specifying the circumstances or nature of the alleged pressure.

Earlier, Deputy Inspector General of Investigation Syed Zeeshan Raza said the woman had already recorded her statement before a court and that police would continue investigating the case on merit.

Background

The 20-year-old Azerbaijani woman had accused three men of sexually assaulting her in Lahore. According to police, she had arrived in the city a few days before the alleged incident.

Investigators said two women allegedly befriended her and took her to a café, where three male acquaintances were present. The group allegedly took her to an apartment, where she was given an intoxicating substance and sexually assaulted by three men.

Police said the suspects later left her near the airport and fled. A case was registered at Lahore’s Defence C police station following her complaint.

The woman subsequently recorded her statement before Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Sagheer under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, naming three men in connection with the alleged assault.

Two suspects, identified as M* and Z*, were arrested, while AT*’s alleged role remained under investigation. AT* was arrested outside the court premises after a sessions court extended his interim bail until October 27.

The woman’s lawyer had requested that her statement be recorded through video link, arguing that she was not being granted a visa to return to Pakistan. The court sought arguments on the application.

Police have said the investigation will continue on merit as authorities examine the evidence and the roles of the suspects.