4 suspects, including Raza Dar, remanded in police custody in foreign women's rape, kidnap case

A court in Lahore on Friday handed over four suspects to police on a five-day physical remand in a case pertaining to alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of two foreign women.

The suspects — Ahmad Raza Dar, Sikandar Aziz Khan, Hassan Raza and Sajid Ali — were presented before a judicial magistrate after their arrest on July 2.

According to the court order, police sought a 14-day remand to recover the weapon allegedly used in the crime, trace the ransom money and complete the investigation. The court, however, granted five days.

The case came to light after police rescued a Dutch and a Venezuelan woman from a house in Lahore’s Defence area.

Investigators said the women had travelled to Pakistan after being invited by Ahmad Raza Dar, whom they had met in Singapore in October last year.

Police said the women were allegedly abducted on June 29 by a group of men who demanded $1.5 million for their release and repeatedly assaulted them during their captivity.

The rescue operation began after the father of one of the women made an emergency call to Pakistani authorities from Spain.

Police said the suspects were traced through surveillance cameras and the victims were recovered within two hours. Officials said a fifth suspect, identified as a security guard, is still absconding.