The court’s decision has drawn outrage online.
Stage actress Samar Rana was released by a Lahore court after being accused in a case of rape and torture.
Judicial Magistrate Zaib Shehzad Cheema ordered her immediate release after reviewing the police record presented in court.
The magistrate noted the investigating officer failed to present the suspects within 24 hours of arrest as required.
The court stressed that physical remand cannot be granted without strong grounds and clear justification by investigators.
It declared that no evidence directly linked Rana to the allegations, leading to her discharge from the case.
Earlier, police had arrested Rana after a 14-year-old domestic worker accused her and several men of abuse.
According to the FIR, the teenager started work at Rana’s house in the OPF Housing Scheme on August 8, 2025.
On the night of August 14, a man living upstairs allegedly drugged and raped the girl while she worked.
The next morning, Rana’s employee allegedly assaulted the teenager again and later brought four other unidentified men.
The FIR said the girl remained confined, drugged, and abused while the suspects recorded videos and photographs.
It further alleged that Rana slapped the victim in the stomach and threatened her into silence about the ordeal.
The girl eventually escaped on August 18 and informed her mother, who noticed injuries and approached the police.
Nawab Town police registered a case under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code against Rana and others.
Authorities raided her residence and placed her under arrest while searching for the other unidentified suspects.
Police requested physical remand, but the court ruled such requests could not be approved without sufficient evidence.
The court ordered action against the investigating officer for delays and weak handling of the case record.
Law enforcement confirmed the main investigation is ongoing and raids are continuing to trace the remaining men.
Samar Rana’s discharge has raised questions about poor investigations in sensitive cases involving minors and domestic workers.
The court’s decision has drawn outrage online, with many netizens expressing anger that another victim has been denied justice.
Users on social media platforms said the discharge reflects systemic failures in protecting vulnerable domestic workers from exploitation.
Several commentators argued the investigation appeared weak and mishandled, allowing a public figure to walk free too quickly.
Others pointed out that repeated cases of abuse against children rarely see convictions, deepening mistrust in law enforcement.
Officials said that the survivor is receiving medical care while further proceedings remain underway.
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