Lahore police arrest four over abduction and sexual assault allegations involving foreign women

LAHORE: Police in Lahore said they rescued two foreign women within hours of receiving an emergency complaint, arrested four suspects and began an investigation into allegations of abduction, ransom demands and sexual assault.

According to a first information report registered on Thursday at Defence C Police Station, the case was filed under Sections 365A and 375A of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of one of the women. In her account, she said the two women had travelled to Pakistan after being invited by an acquaintance they had met in Singapore in October 2025.

The complainant alleged that on June 29, the women were abducted by that acquaintance along with four accomplices, who demanded money for their release. The FIR also included allegations of repeated sexual assault, threats with weapons, physical violence and extortion.

In a statement, Lahore police said the Punjab Emergency Helpline received a call from the father of one of the women, who was in the Netherlands, reporting the alleged kidnapping. The police said the operation was launched following directions from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and that investigators used Safe City surveillance to trace the suspects.

Police said the two women were recovered in about two hours and that four suspects were taken into custody. Raids were continuing to arrest the remaining suspects, according to the police statement.

Investigators said the women had undergone medical examinations and that further legal action would proceed in light of forensic material and other evidence gathered during the investigation.

Lahore Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Faisal Kamran said those found involved in the case would be brought before the law and said crimes against women would not be tolerated.

Claims circulated on social media that one of the suspects was related to an influential political figure. However, police did not comment on the claim, and no such connection was mentioned in either the FIR or the police statement.