Punjab orders police to treat accused in foreign women gangrape, kidnapping case 'on merit': DIG

• DIG Operations Kamran says no special treatment given to suspect allegedly linked to ‘senior political figure’

• Fifth suspect arrested as investigators await forensic and DNA reports to strengthen prosecution

• DIG says victims escaped after car crash, contacted police through WhatsApp conference call

• Apologises over SHO’s entry into magistrate’s residence, says legal urgency prompted action

• CM Maryam directs ‘100pc merit’ as police probe possibility of organised criminal gang

 LAHORE: Police investigating the alleged abduction, gang rape and extortion of two foreign women in Lahore on Sunday said the prime suspect, reportedly linked to a senior government figure, was ordered to be treated "like any other criminal", while authorities arrested a fifth suspect and said the case would proceed strictly on merit on the basis of forensic and DNA evidence.

Addressing a press conference, Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Faisal Kamran recounted the sequence of events that led to the recovery of the two foreign women and the arrest of the suspects.

He said police launched simultaneous raids in Sargodha and several other locations to trace the victims. During the operation, investigators obtained the family tree of one of the suspects and, after speaking to residents of a raided house, learned that the suspect's family had previously lived there as tenants and was believed to be related to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

The police officer identified the suspect as Muhammad Raza Dar.

On Thursday, police registered a case against five suspects over the alleged abduction and sexual assault after the two foreign women were rescued. Four suspects, including a close relative of a senior political personality, were arrested and later remanded into police custody for five days.

Kamran said that once the possible family connection surfaced, investigators verified the information through the family, obtained the suspect's contact number and began tracing his whereabouts.

"As soon as this was flagged, we had to confirm the information, and we confirmed it from the family; we got the number (of the suspect) from them and began tracing his location," he said.

"The family definitely would have told him to surrender," the police official added.

Kamran said he immediately informed the senior police command and the government about the suspect's reported links to a high-profile political figure.

"We received strict orders from the government to treat him no differently than any other criminal," he said, adding that the investigation also indicated the possibility that a criminal gang, rather than a lone individual, was involved in the incident.

The DIG said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had also directed that the suspects be dealt with on "100 per cent merit."

He recalled that police conducted raids in Sargodha, Shahdara and DHA, drawing increasing public attention to the investigation.

According to Kamran, the suspect later told the women he was taking them to the airport after claiming he had received the ransom. However, when the vehicle turned towards Bhatta Chowk, the women became suspicious.

The DIG said the car subsequently collided with another vehicle, allowing the women to escape and seek refuge in a nearby shop.

During the incident, one of the women remained in contact with her father through WhatsApp messages and voice calls. Her father, identified as Carlos, established a conference call with the ASP Defence, during which the women informed police that they had escaped.

Meanwhile, the suspect attempted to flee, but police tracked his location through the Safe City surveillance system and his mobile phone before directing him to surrender.

"The SP Cantt went to arrest him and brought him to the police station," Kamran said.

Rejecting allegations that police had not recovered the women, the DIG said records showed a Police 15 emergency call was received at 12:40, after which officers established contact with the complainant's father in Spain and traced the victims' locations.

He maintained that the police's background work had ensured the successful recovery of the foreign nationals.

Kamran said the next challenge for investigators was to ensure there were no legal loopholes that could later benefit the suspects.

He said police obtained the victims' consent for medical examinations through their respective embassies.

The DIG said the women were initially reluctant to record their statements because they were scheduled to leave Pakistan on July 2, but Lahore police assured them they would compensate for the cost of revised airline tickets.

The two women eventually departed Pakistan on July 3. According to Kamran, they praised the professionalism of Lahore police before leaving and requested a Pakistani flag to take home.

DIG regrets magistrate's residence incident

During the briefing, DIG Kamran also termed it an "unfortunate" incident when a station house officer (SHO) forcibly entered the official residence of the magistrate concerned to record the statements of the two foreign women.

He explained that although the women were due to leave Pakistan on July 2, their statements under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) had not yet been recorded.

Apologising to the judiciary over the incident, Kamran nevertheless defended the urgency behind the move, saying that failure to complete the legal process would have invited criticism of Pakistan's legal system both domestically and internationally.

The issue prompted strong objections from journalists during the press conference.

Responding to questions, the DIG said a duty magistrate was expected to remain available around the clock, but police were unable to establish contact with him.

He said the SHO repeatedly rang the doorbell and, finding the gate unlocked, entered the premises.

According to Kamran, the magistrate had recently shifted to another residence; however, he was present when the SHO entered the house.

"His concerns are valid, of course, and we have taken action against the SHO as well," Kamran said.

The explanation, however, failed to calm protesting journalists, after which the DIG ended the press conference.

Fifth suspect arrested

Meanwhile, police arrested a fifth suspect in the alleged abduction, gang rape and extortion case involving two foreign women in Lahore's Defence C area, while three additional individuals were taken into custody for questioning.

According to investigators, a preliminary medical examination confirmed evidence of sexual assault against one of the complainants, a Venezuelan national.

Police said DNA samples collected from the complainants and the suspects, along with their mobile phones, had been sent for forensic examination. Investigators said further legal proceedings would be based on the forensic and DNA findings.

Investigative sources claimed that the prime suspect, Raza Dar, is the grandson of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. They further alleged that the suspects and the two women had cryptocurrency investments worth between $400,000 and $500,000.

Investigators also alleged that approximately $19,000 had been transferred from one complainant's digital wallet.

Venezuelan complainant corroborates account of second complainant

Meanwhile, the statement of the Venezuelan complainant, identified as Estrid Robinson, was recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC. In her testimony, she reportedly corroborated the account of the second complainant and repeated allegations of abduction, physical assault, death threats and sexual assault.

According to the FIR, the second complainant, Stephanie Adriana, a Dutch national, stated that she met Reza Dar in Singapore in October 2025. She alleged that he later invited both women to Pakistan and arranged their visas.

The two women arrived in Pakistan on June 29 and alleged that they were subsequently abducted. Police later recovered them from Lahore's Defence area after receiving information from the Dutch complainant's father, who was in the Netherlands.

Police said the investigation was continuing strictly on merit and that all legal action would be based on available evidence, including the forensic and DNA reports.