Pakistani police have arrested four men in connection with the brutal gang rape and kidnapping of two foreign women, with one suspect reported to be the grandson of Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister. The victims, from the Netherlands and Venezuela, were allegedly lured to Pakistan on visas arranged by their attackers after meeting one suspect in Singapore in October 2025.
Kidnapping and Ransom Demands
The women were kidnapped from their accommodation in Lahore on June 29. Armed men stormed the property, restrained the victims, and demanded access to cryptocurrency accounts. One survivor testified that an attacker said: "He told me if we gave them the money, we would live. If we didn't, they would kill us." The kidnappers initially demanded approximately £1.2 million, but a $100,000 (£74,000) ransom was allegedly paid by the families before police located the women.
Arrests and Court Appearance
The four suspects—Hassan Raza, Sikandar Khan, Sajid Ali, and Muhammad Raza Dar—appeared in court on July 3 and were remanded in custody for five days. According to multiple reports, Muhammad Raza Dar is the grandson of Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister. A fifth suspect, a security guard, remains at large. Deputy District Public Prosecutor Nazar Iqbal told Arab News: "The allegation is of rape, gang rape took place because there were multiple people, more than one."
Survivor Testimony
In testimony before a magistrate, one victim detailed the attack: the women were raped at gunpoint, tortured with broken mirror pieces, and forced to negotiate ransom payments. She stated that Hassan Raza, whom they met in Singapore, invited them to Pakistan and arranged their visas. The traumatised victims were found after the father of one woman contacted police from Spain, triggering a surveillance operation.
Investigation and Evidence
Prosecutors requested 14 days of custody to recover weapons, ransom money, and other evidence. Iqbal confirmed forensic testing will be conducted, but prosecutors will proceed even if results are inconclusive, relying on witness testimony and surveillance footage. The case has drawn significant attention due to the alleged political links and the use of cryptocurrency in the ransom demand.
