18-year-old domestic worker death case escalates as Lahore Police adds murder charges in high-profile investigation
Court allows custody request of jailed suspect; investigation shifted to Lahore Investigation Wing amid conflicting statements and allegations
Lahore (Crime Reporter) Lahore Police have upgraded charges to include murder in the case of 18-year-old domestic worker Ayesha, who died following alleged medical complications after an abortion procedure linked to a reported sexual assault case.
Police officials confirmed that the investigation has been transferred from the Gender Cell to the Lahore Investigation Wing for further probe. Authorities have also secured court permission to seek custody of jailed suspect Hassan Driver for interrogation after the inclusion of murder charges.
According to police, one suspect has already been arrested and sent to judicial remand, while efforts are underway to re-involve individuals previously cleared during initial investigations. Officials said these individuals will now be included in the murder inquiry.
The case originated on April 28 when Model Town Police registered an FIR based on Ayesha’s complaint alleging gang rape under sections including 375-A and related provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Police sources stated that the victim was allegedly taken to a private clinic in Raiwind for an abortion procedure, after which her condition deteriorated and she was shifted to Lahore’s Services Hospital, where she died after several days of treatment.
The case gained widespread attention after a recorded video allegedly made by the victim before her death surfaced on social media, in which she detailed the alleged incidents.
The victim’s father has claimed that her judicial statement under Section 164 was recorded under pressure, while police maintain that the statement is being legally reviewed. Authorities are awaiting the post-mortem report to determine the final cause of death.
