A court in Lahore on Wednesday authorized police to hold Muskan, a female suspect linked to the alleged gang rape of an Azerbaijani woman, for three days in physical remand. The Azerbaijani national had come to Pakistan on business and was reportedly assaulted by three men at a rented apartment in Defence during the night between Friday and Saturday.
The case was registered at Defence C police station following the incident. Judicial Magistrate Azhar Mahmood presided over the hearing at the Cantonment Courts, where Muskan appeared before the court. The prosecution requested the remand, emphasizing that this was Muskan’s initial physical custody period and that she should remain detained during this time.
Muskan’s defense counsel stated that her connection with the Azeri woman was merely a friendship. The defense further argued that remanding her was unjustified since the charges did not involve murder or robbery, and there was no evidence to recover from her.
During proceedings, the magistrate inquired whether Muskan wished to undergo a medical examination, to which she consented. After considering both sides, the court granted the three-day remand and placed Muskan in police custody.
Previously, a local court had approved a six-day physical remand for two other suspects involved in the same case. In a related development on Tuesday, Additional Sessions Judge Riffaqat Ali restrained police from arresting another female suspect until October 5, while hearing her interim bail petition. The court also instructed the suspect to cooperate with the investigation and ordered police to submit a progress report.
