The female TikToker victim involved in the 2021 Minar-i-Pakistan assault case has decided to pardon all the suspects, it was revealed on Monday.
Back in August 2021, Lahore police had registered a case against hundreds of unidentified individuals for assaulting and robbing the TikToker and her companions at Greater Iqbal Park on Pakistan’s Independence Day.
The incident sparked widespread outrage, especially amidst heightened concerns over violence against women in Pakistan following other tragic cases earlier that year.
According to the court order issued by Additional Session Judge Gul Abbas, the victim appeared before the court on June 3 and submitted an affidavit stating her decision. The judge scheduled a hearing for further arguments on August 26.
In her affidavit, the TikToker expressed her forgiveness towards all the suspects “for the sake of Allah and his Holy Prophet (PBUH)”. She mentioned that she had no objections to the suspects being acquitted, and emphasized that her statement was given willingly and without any coercion.
The case originally included charges under Sections 354-A (assault or use of force against a woman), 382 (theft), 147 (rioting), and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). More than 100 suspects were initially detained, but many were released due to lack of identification during legal proceedings.
The situation evolved with allegations and counter-allegations, including claims of blackmail and false accusations among involved parties. Courts subsequently granted bail to several suspects as the legal process continued.
The latest development indicates a significant turn in the case as the victim has opted to forgive those accused, potentially affecting further legal proceedings.
