An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Thursday granted a four-day physical remand of six suspects arrested in a case involving an alleged assault and altercation with employees of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA). The accused were produced before the court after completion of their initial five-day physical remand. The police sought further custody, stating that additional interrogation was required to complete the investigation. ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill approved the police request and directed that the suspects be handed back to the investigating authorities for further probe. The accused include Aziz Shafqat, Muhammad Adnan, Muhammad Rafiq, Abdullah, Irfan Ahmad and Muhammad Ilyas.
Separate Case: Kidnapping and Sexual Assault of Foreign Women
Meanwhile, Punjab Police are continuing to investigate the alleged kidnapping, sexual assault and attempted ransom extortion of two foreign women in Lahore’s DHA, after arresting suspects and launching raids to apprehend additional accused named in the case. According to investigators, the complainants are citizens of the Netherlands and Venezuela who travelled to Pakistan on June 2 after accepting an invitation from a man one of them had reportedly met in Singapore. Police allege that soon after arriving in Lahore, the women were unlawfully confined, sexually assaulted and held while their families were allegedly asked to pay US$1.5 million for their release.
How the Rescue Operation Unfolded
The incident came to the attention of authorities after the father of one of the victims contacted Punjab’s emergency helpline from the Netherlands, reporting that his daughter had allegedly been abducted. Police said surveillance footage and Safe City monitoring systems were used to trace the suspects’ location, leading to a raid in the DHA area in which both women were recovered and four suspects were taken into custody. Following the rescue operation, the victims underwent medical examinations before appearing before a judicial magistrate at Lahore’s Cantt Courts, where they recorded statements under Section 164 of Pakistan’s Code of Criminal Procedure. Police said the statements form part of the ongoing investigation.
Victims’ Statements and Charges Registered
The women, identified by police as Stephanie Adana Mao and Astrid Robinson, told investigators they had travelled to Pakistan to meet friends. In their recorded statements, they alleged they were kidnapped, subjected to sexual assault and held while ransom demands were made to their families. Police have registered a case at Defence-C Police Station under charges that include kidnapping for ransom, gang rape and extortion. Investigators say forensic evidence is being collected and additional arrests are expected as efforts continue to locate the remaining suspects.
Political Connection Denied by Police
Authorities confirmed that four individuals have been nominated in the FIR, including Muhammad Raza Dar, who has been identified in several Pakistani media reports as a relative of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Police have not commented on any political connection to the case, and no court has made findings regarding the allegations. Officials said the investigation remains ongoing and that all available evidence, including forensic material and witness statements, is being examined before the case proceeds to trial.
