A court in Lahore has cleared all suspects involved in the high-profile harassment case of TikToker Ayesha Akram at Greater Iqbal Park. This decision follows Ayesha Akram’s decision to forgive those accused.
Presiding over the case, Additional Sessions Judge Gul Abbas accepted Ayesha’s affidavit, in which she expressed her intent to withdraw charges against the accused. She stated, “For the sake of God and His Messenger, I forgive all the accused. I hold no objection to their acquittal,” clarifying that her choice was made voluntarily.
A hearing is set for August 26 to discuss the pleas for acquittal and further review the statements provided by the plaintiff.
The case involves twelve defendants, including Ayesha’s friend, Amir Sohail, known as “Rambo.” The charges stem from an incident on August 14, 2021, when Ayesha was harassed by a large crowd while filming a TikTok video at Minar-e-Pakistan. The disturbing footage sparked widespread outrage across the country.
Ayesha had initially filed her complaint on August 17 at Lahore’s Lari Adda police station, detailing how she and her companions were overwhelmed by hundreds of people and struggled to escape. A security guard at the park eventually helped them exit through a gate.
During the chaos, Ayesha reported being robbed of her jewelry, and her partner’s phone, ID card, and Rs15,000 were also stolen.
The incident drew national attention, including from then-Prime Minister Imran Khan, who called for a thorough investigation. This led to disciplinary actions, with then-Chief Minister Usman Buzdar initiating a high-level inquiry that resulted in the suspension of several senior police officers for their inadequate response to the event.