Ayesha Akram Beg, the TikToker, who had been ‘molested’ by a mob of around 400 youth at Greater Iqbal Park on August 14 (Independence Day) did not show up in the sessions court in Lahore on Tuesday in connection with the hearing of her case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The prosecution in the case had summoned her to give her account of the incident, which had received worldwide media coverage.
“Ayesha, the TikToker, who had been issued summons to appear in the court has expressed her inability to show up in the court today, citing her poor health,” investigation officer (IO) in the case told the court.
Meanwhile, Akhtar Ali, one of the suspects in the TikToker’s ‘molestation’ case, who had come to the sessions court to seek pre-arrest bail, was roughed up by the lawyers as well as the people gathered at the court premises.
In yet another development at Lahore’s sessions court, the interim bail applications filed by two suspects in the case namely Ilyas Saleem and Usman Aziz were thrown out.
Also Read: TikToker Molestation Case: Court jails 6 accused on judicial remand
The other two suspects namely Shehroze and Akhtar Ali who appeared in the court were ordered by the court to cooperate with the investigators.
The IO in the case told the court that both of them had not become part of the investigation as yet, and that they had filed pre-arrest bails.
Counsel for the two suspects, however, told the court that both his clients were willing to cooperate with the investigators, but feared arrests by the police. “Therefore, I pray to the court to order the police to refrain my arresting them,” he implored.
Adjourning the case’s hearing until September 23, the court directed the police to produce complete record of the case on that date.
Reporter Jamaluddin Jamali