A local court in Lahore has discharged stage actress and dancer Samar Rana in a case pertaining to the torture and gang rape of a 14-year-old domestic worker,  media reports have stated. 

 

Samar Rana was presented before the court by the Investigation Police Nawab Town. Judicial Magistrate Zaib Shehzad Cheema heard the case and ordered her immediate release.

 

The court ordered action against the investigating officer for failing to present the suspects before the court within 24 hours of her arrest.

 

Police had requested physical remand of the suspects but the court observed that such remand cannot be granted unnecessarily or mechanically.

 

The court noted that after reviewing the record, no evidence was found against Samar Rana. On the basis of lack of evidence, the actress was discharged from the case.

 

Earlier, Lahore police arrested theatre actor Samar Rana on Sunday after a 16-year-old domestic worker accused her and others of rape and torture.

 

According to media reports, Nawab Town police registered a case under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code against Rana, her employee, and four unidentified men.

 

The FIR was reportedly filed by the girl's mother, stating that her daughter began working at Rana’s residence in OPF Housing Scheme on August 8. On the night of August 14, a man living in the upper portion of the house allegedly gave the girl a drugged drink and raped her. The next morning, Rana’s employee reportedly drugged and assaulted her again. He then called four other men, unknown to the victim, who allegedly raped her over the next two days.

 

The FIR further alleges that the girl remained drugged and confined in the house, where the suspects recorded videos and took photos of the assault. Rana allegedly hit the girl in the stomach and threatened her to stay silent.

 

The victim escaped on August 18 but remained quiet out of fear. Her mother discovered the abuse on August 23 after noticing her daughter’s injuries and immediately approached the police.

 

Law enforcement raided Rana’s residence and took her into custody. Police confirmed that efforts are underway to arrest the remaining suspects.