An Azerbaijani woman at the centre of an alleged gang-rape case in Lahore left for Azerbaijan on Sunday after earlier refusing to board a flight.
Diana departed from Lahore airport for Baku with three Lahore Police officers who will accompany her until she reaches Azerbaijan.
Police sources said that the Azerbaijani embassy requested police officers to travel with Diana. The team includes Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Barira, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Qamar Abbas and Gender Cell In-Charge Fariyal.
The officers will remain with Diana during the journey and take her to her homeland in their custody.
Diana had earlier refused to return to Azerbaijan on Friday after completing the boarding process at Lahore airport. She got off the plane and raised concerns about her return, saying that she wanted to pursue her case and was being sent back forcibly.
The 20-year-old woman had filed a complaint against three unidentified men over an alleged gang-rape, following which police registered a case at Defence C police station.
Lahore Investigation Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Syed Zeeshan Raza took notice of the case and formed special teams under Cantt Investigation Superintendent of Police Asim Iftikhar to trace and arrest the suspects.
According to the FIR [First Information Report], Diana had arrived in Lahore a few days before the incident. The report said that two unidentified women took her to a cafe where three male friends of theirs were already present.
The group later took Diana to a flat after spending some time at the cafe. The FIR alleged that the suspects gave her a drink containing an intoxicating substance before three men allegedly sexually assaulted her.
The FIR said that the suspects assaulted Diana throughout the night before leaving her near the airport and fleeing. They also allegedly took her iPhone and another expensive mobile phone.
Police launched an investigation into the case and searched for the suspects. On September 27, investigators found a vehicle allegedly used in the incident and detained three people for questioning.
Lahore Police later identified suspects allegedly involved in the case and started efforts to arrest them.
DIG Raza said that Investigation Police had arrested two main suspects who were being interrogated while another suspect remained at large. He added that police will arrest the remaining suspect soon and those found guilty will face punishment under the law.
