Pakistan: Court charges Ishaq Dar's grandson in gang-rape case
What's the story
A Pakistani court has formally charged eight suspects, including Raza Dar, the grandson of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, news agency PTI reported. The charges are in connection with the alleged gang-rape of two foreign women in Lahore. The indictment was announced by Additional District and Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ali Gondal on Tuesday. All suspects have pleaded not guilty and are currently in judicial custody.
Case background
The women met Raza Dar in Singapore
The two women, a Dutch national and a Venezuelan citizen, were allegedly kidnapped and raped by Raza Dar and four of his friends during their business trip to Lahore in June.
The Punjab police had earlier cleared Raza Dar and his accomplices of the rape charges but charged three low-paid employees instead.
The women met Raza Dar in Singapore in 2025 and invited him to invest money with them in the business of cryptocurrency.
Coercion claims
They were forced to transfer $19,500 under threat of violence
The women alleged they were taken to a house in Lahore's Defence Housing Authority, where they were detained and pressured to pay the amount.
They were forced to transfer $19,500 under threat of violence with a knife, a gun, and a piece of broken mirror.
The police report stated that armed men threatened them with death if they didn't meet the demands.
Escape and trial
Women managed to escape when kidnappers were transporting them
The women managed to escape when their kidnappers were taking them to Lahore airport after a vehicle accident.
They returned to their respective home countries after recording their statements.
The judge has directed the prosecution to present its witnesses on December 9 so that the formal trial proceedings could start.