Fresh FIR registered in Lahore case involving foreign women

LAHORE: Police have registered a separate first information report in Lahore over a traffic collision linked to the case in which two foreign women were later recovered after allegedly being kidnapped and sexually assaulted, according to police.

The case involving the two women surfaced after an FIR was lodged at Defence Police Station against five suspects, including Muhammad Raza Dar, who was identified as the grandson of a prominent political figure. The suspects were accused in that case of kidnapping, extortion and sexually assaulting two foreign nationals, one Spanish and one Dutch.

Police said the latest FIR was filed a day after Lahore police stated that the women had been rescued after getting out of the suspects' vehicle near Bhatta Chowk when it crashed. According to police, the owner of a vehicle damaged in the collision came forward, leading to the registration of the new case.

Crash complaint registered separately

The fresh case was registered on the complaint of a driver identified as Usman. He told police that he was travelling from a private housing society towards Bhatta Chowk when another vehicle hit his car on Airport Road and left the scene.

Usman told police he repeatedly called the emergency helpline 15 before officers reached the location. The FIR states that the collision caused damage estimated at around Rs300,000.

Police said Usman's emergency call led officers to the scene. Investigators said the two foreign women got out of the suspects' vehicle after the crash and ran to a nearby shop, where they took shelter until police arrived.

According to police, this newly registered case concerns the road accident and is separate from the main investigation into the allegations of kidnapping, extortion and sexual assault.

Police outline timeline of main case

Speaking at a press conference a day earlier, Lahore Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran said the two women had arrived in Lahore on June 29 and were allegedly abducted soon afterwards.

He said investigators used Safe City camera footage, mobile phone data and vehicle records to trace the suspects before arresting four of them on July 2.

Kamran also said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had directed the authorities to proceed strictly on merit in the case.

Police said the statements of the two women were recorded before a magistrate. After medical examinations and other legal formalities were completed, they were allowed to leave Pakistan. The investigation into the main case is continuing.