Four Arrested Over Lahore Assault on Two Foreign Women

Pakistani police have arrested four men over the alleged abduction and gang rape of two foreign women in Lahore, in a case that has drawn widespread attention after one of the principal suspects was identified as a relative of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar.

According to police, the four suspects arrested are Muhammad Raja Dar, Hassan Raja, Sikandar Khan and Sajid Ali. They were produced before a Lahore court on Friday, where a judge ordered that they remain in police custody for five days to facilitate further investigation.

The case was formally registered by Lahore Police on Thursday against five suspects. Authorities said the accused have been charged under Section 365A of the Pakistan Penal Code, relating to abduction, and Section 375A, which deals with gang rape. A fifth suspect remains at large, and police say efforts to locate and arrest him are continuing.

Investigators described the case as particularly sensitive because of allegations that the main accused, Muhammad Raja Dar, is related to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. A senior police official said the investigation is being handled with special care owing to the seriousness of the allegations and the high-profile nature of the claimed family connection. Police have stressed that the inquiry will be conducted on the basis of evidence and legal procedure.

According to investigators, the alleged crime took place on 29 June in Lahore. The victims are reported to be citizens of the Netherlands and Venezuela. Police said the incident came to light after the father of one of the women contacted Pakistani authorities by telephone from Spain, expressing concern about his daughter’s whereabouts. Acting on the information provided, law enforcement officers launched an operation and rescued both women.

Following their rescue, the women gave statements that led to the registration of a criminal case on charges including abduction and gang rape. Police subsequently arrested four of the accused while continuing their search for the remaining suspect.

The investigation has also uncovered details about how the victims allegedly came to Pakistan. According to police, the two women first met Muhammad Raja Dar in Singapore in October 2025 through business-related contacts. Investigators believe all three individuals were involved in cryptocurrency-related business activities, which led to continued communication between them.

Police allege that Raja Dar later invited the women to Pakistan for what was presented as a business visit and assisted them in obtaining business visas. After they arrived in Lahore, investigators say they were allegedly confined at a property, subjected to gang rape and later threatened as demands for ransom were made.

A court official said that during proceedings before a magistrate, both women identified Muhammad Raja Dar as the principal suspect in the case. Their identification now forms part of the evidence being examined by investigators.

Police say forensic evidence, witness testimony and other material are being reviewed as part of the ongoing inquiry. Officials have not disclosed further details, citing the sensitivity of the investigation.

The case has renewed public attention on the handling of serious crimes involving violence against women in Pakistan, particularly when allegations involve individuals connected to influential figures. Authorities have reiterated that the investigation remains active and that all aspects of the case will be examined before the completion of legal proceedings.