LAHORE, April 12: A court on Thursday acquitted two police officers of gang-rape charges, leveled against them by a woman, Sonia Naz. The court acquitted the accused, suspended SP Khalid Abdullah and inspector Jamshed Chishti, after long absence of the complainant during the case proceedings, and her inability to show up despite repeated court directions.

Sonia’s counsel Naveed Inayat Malik, through an application, had sought postponement of the proceedings till her appearance, which the court did not allow.

They had filed an application with the court, seeking acquittal in the case, which the court accepted.

Despite issuance of several court warrants and initiation of proclamation process and orders to attach her property, Sonia did not turn up.

According to the prosecution, the accused policemen had abducted Sonia Naz on May 3, 2005, from outside her house in Jauhar Town and gang-raped her.

On Oct 19, 2005, the accused were arrested after the (now) non-functional chief justice of Pakistan had taken a suo moto notice of the incident. Sattukatla police had registered a case under Hudood laws against them on Oct 12, 2005.