Ishaq Dar’s Grandson, Seven Others Indicted in Lahore Gang Rape Case
A Pakistani court has framed charges against eight accused, including Raza Dar, in the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of two foreign women, with the trial scheduled to begin on December 9.
LAHORE, Nov 11: A court in Pakistan has formally indicted eight suspects, including the grandson of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, in connection with the alleged gang rape and kidnapping of two foreign women in Lahore.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ali Gondal framed charges against the accused on Tuesday. All eight suspects pleaded not guilty during the proceedings, a court official said on Wednesday.
The judge directed the prosecution to produce its witnesses on December 9, paving the way for the commencement of the formal trial. All the accused, who are currently in judicial custody, were brought before the court for the indictment proceedings.
The case has attracted considerable attention after Punjab Police earlier gave a clean chit to Ishaq Dar’s grandson, Raza Dar, and four of his associates. In its investigation report submitted to the court, police had reportedly excluded the five men from the rape allegations and instead charged three employees associated with Raza Dar.
The two complainants, identified as Stephanie Adnana Mau-Arun of the Netherlands and Astrid Robinson Baracho of Venezuela, alleged that they were kidnapped and sexually assaulted after arriving in Pakistan on a business-related visit in June this year. Their medical examinations subsequently confirmed sexual assault, while both women returned to their respective countries after recording their statements.
According to the police report, the women had first met Raza Dar in Singapore in 2025 and invited him to invest in their cryptocurrency business. Following returns on his initial investment, he reportedly invested more than USD 500,000.
However, the alleged dispute arose when the women failed to provide further profits or return the invested amount, according to the police account.
The report stated that Raza Dar subsequently invited the women to Pakistan in June, promising to arrange a meeting with another investor. They initially stayed at a hotel in Islamabad and later travelled to the hill station of Murree voluntarily.
Police alleged that the women were subsequently taken to a residence in Lahore’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA), where they were confined and pressured to repay the disputed investment.
The complainants were allegedly forced to transfer USD 19,500. According to the police investigation, armed individuals guarded them inside the property and threatened them with a knife, a firearm and a broken piece of mirror.
The alleged kidnappers also threatened to kill the women and sell their body parts if their demands were not fulfilled, the police report stated.
The two women eventually managed to escape while being transported towards Lahore airport. Their escape reportedly became possible after the vehicle carrying them met with an accident on the way.
The indictment marks a significant development in the case, particularly after the earlier police findings raised questions about the investigation. The prosecution is now expected to present its witnesses before the court on December 9.
