LHC dismisses Nimra's interim bail in foreign national rape case

The Lahore High Court on Thursday dismissed the interim bail application of Nimra, a co-accused in a rape case involving a foreign national, after neither she nor her counsel appeared at the hearing.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry heard the petition and dismissed it for non-prosecution, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported. Daily Times carried the same account of the hearing.

The bench had earlier asked the investigating officer to submit a report on Nimra's alleged role in the case.

The first information report is registered at Defence C police station in Lahore, and Nimra is named in it as a co-accused.

Her application before the high court followed an earlier attempt before a sessions court, which had also dismissed her interim bail. The reports did not give the date of that order.

Nimra was not present in court and no reason was given in the reports for her absence or that of her lawyer.

A dismissal for non-prosecution means the applicant did not pursue the plea at the hearing. It is not a finding on the merits of the case against the accused.

The reports did not name the complainant, give details of the other accused, say whether a fresh bail application has been filed, or state when the trial court will next take up the matter.