TikToker Ayesha Akram Forgives Attackers in Minar-e-Pakistan Incident

Ayesha Akram, a TikToker who was mistreated at Minar-e-Pakistan in August 2021, has decided to forgive her attackers and not pursue the case further. She appeared in court on June 3 and submitted an affidavit stating her decision was made without any fear or threat. Additional session judge Gul Abbas issued an order on June 25 confirming her statement.

In August 2021, Lahore police booked hundreds of unidentified persons for assaulting and stealing from Ayesha and her companions at Greater Iqbal Park on Independence Day. The incident had drawn significant attention to violence against women in Pakistan, following the murders of Noor Mukadam and Quratul Ain in July 2021. Videos of the incident were widely shared on social media, prompting strong reactions from celebrities and politicians.

Initially, over 100 suspects were arrested, but most were released due to lack of identification. Some suspects were later granted bail, and in November 2022, a sessions court formally charged 16 suspects with the crime. Despite the charges, Ayesha has now chosen to forgive the suspects and not object to their acquittal.