Court extends remand of three suspects in foreign women assault case

A judicial magistrate on Thursday granted police a further four-day physical remand of three suspects allegedly involved in the abduction and rape of two foreign women, accepting the investigating agency’s request to recover weapons, cash, jewellery, and a wristwatch linked to the offence.

Judicial Magistrate Azhar Mahmood passed the order after Defence-C Police produced suspects Rizwan, Nawaz, and Nasir before the court on the expiry of their previous five-day physical remand. During the hearing, the state prosecutor informed the court that weapons had been recovered from suspects Rizwan and Nasir, and that police required additional custody to complete the investigation and recover other case property. After hearing arguments, the court allowed the prosecution’s request and handed the three suspects over to police on further remand.

The case was registered at Defence-C Police Station after two foreign women alleged that they had been abducted and sexually assaulted. According to the complaint, the women had travelled to Pakistan after being invited by an acquaintance they met in Singapore in October 2025. On June 29, they were abducted by the acquaintance and four accomplices, who demanded money for their release. The complaint further contained allegations of repeated sexual assault, threats with weapons, physical abuse, and extortion.

Lahore police launched an operation following a call to the Punjab Emergency Helpline from the father of one of the women, who was in the Netherlands. Using Safe City surveillance, police traced the suspects and recovered the two women within approximately two hours. Four suspects were arrested, and raids are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.

According to DIG Operations Lahore Faisal Kamran, the women were recovered after they escaped from the vehicle carrying them following a collision and sought refuge at a nearby filtration plant. Police contacted the embassies of Spain and the Netherlands, and one of the women was identified as a Venezuelan national. The women agreed to undergo medical examinations and record their statements before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The embassies have requested that the women be repatriated at the earliest. Police continue to investigate all aspects of the case.