Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister’s Grandson Arrested Over Abduction, Rape, and Torture of Two Foreign Women in Lahore

A high-profile criminal case has rocked Pakistan after police arrested Muhammad Raza Dar, the grandson of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with three other suspects over abduction, gang rape, torture, and extortion of two foreign women in Lahore. The case has triggered widespread outrage because of the accused’s political connections and the severity of the allegations.

According to Lahore Police, the victims are a Dutch woman and a Venezuelan woman who traveled to Pakistan after receiving an invitation from Muhammad Raza Dar, whom they had reportedly met in Singapore in October 2025. Investigators said Dar arranged business visas for the women and persuaded them to visit Lahore under the pretext of friendship and business opportunities, including discussions linked to a cryptocurrency venture.

The First Information Report (FIR) states that shortly after the women arrived in Lahore on June 29, Dar, his associates, and another individual described as his “boss” kidnapped them. The victims alleged that the group confined them inside a house, repeatedly sexually assaulted them, physically tortured them, and robbed them of their belongings. The FIR invokes provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code relating to kidnapping for ransom and gang rape.

The complaint further alleges that the accused demanded a large ransom in exchange for the women’s release. One victim later claimed the kidnappers demanded as much as $100,000, while other reports indicate investigators are examining claims of even larger ransom demands linked to the case. Adding another disturbing dimension to the investigation, the women also added that the accused threatened to kill them and sell their organs if the ransom was not paid.

Police rescued the victims after authorities received an urgent call from the father of one of the women, who contacted Pakistani officials from Spain after learning that his daughter had been abducted. The rescue operation led to the registration of a criminal case at Lahore’s Defense-C Police Station. Investigators subsequently presented the victims before a magistrate, where they recorded statements under Section 164 of Pakistan’s Criminal Procedure Code, formally repeating their allegations of kidnapping, rape, torture, and extortion.

Lahore Police arrested Muhammad Raza Dar along with Hassan Raza, Sikandar Khan, and Sajid Ali. A Lahore court later remanded the four suspects in police custody for five days to facilitate further interrogation. Police said a fifth suspect remains at large, and raids are underway to locate and arrest him. Officials described the investigation as highly sensitive because one of the principal accused is closely related to one of Pakistan’s most senior cabinet ministers.

According to investigators, the women identified Muhammad Raza Dar as the principal accused during court proceedings. Police officials have said they are examining every aspect of the case, including the alleged cryptocurrency business relationship between Dar and the victims, to determine whether it played any role in the crime or whether it merely served as a pretext to lure the women to Pakistan.

The allegations have generated intense political scrutiny in Pakistan because of Muhammad Raza Dar’s family ties. Ishaq Dar, as Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, is one of the country’s most influential political figures. His family also maintains close ties with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s political family, making the case one of the most politically sensitive criminal investigations currently underway in Pakistan.

Authorities have not announced any charges against Ishaq Dar himself, and the investigation remains focused on the individuals named in the FIR. Police have stated that they intend to pursue the case regardless of the suspects’ political connections, while continuing efforts to apprehend the remaining accused and gather additional forensic and documentary evidence. The case remains under active investigation.

The case has once again drawn attention to Pakistan’s persistent struggle with sexual violence. With limited to no judicial reforms, “rape culture” seems to have taken over Pakistan, regardless of social class. The allegations involving foreign nationals have also renewed concerns about the safety of women traveling to the Islamic country, reigniting the debate on how Islamic groups, historically and even in the modern day, seek to justify the enslavement or sexual exploitation of non-Muslim women by invoking the concept of maal-e-ghanimat (“war booty”). Such narratives continue to encourage some men in Muslim societies to target and rationalize violence against women, especially those who do not share their religious faith.