Lahore police rescue two foreign women after kidnapping

Lahore police rescue two foreign women after kidnapping

Lahore police have rescued two foreign women who were allegedly kidnapped shortly after arriving in the city on June 29, according to Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Faisal Kamran. Speaking at a press conference, he described the incident as deeply unfortunate and outlined the investigation that led to the suspects’ arrests.

Kamran said investigators quickly identified the vehicle used in the kidnapping and traced its registration details. However, the registered owner’s mobile phone remained switched off, prompting police to widen their investigation. As detectives gathered more evidence, they discovered links between several suspects and the districts of Sargodha and other nearby areas.

Using footage from the Safe City surveillance network, investigators tracked the vehicle’s route and confirmed that it had travelled to Sargodha via the motorway. Police then carried out raids in Sargodha before extending their operations to Shahdara and Lahore’s Defence area. Their efforts resulted in the arrest of four suspects on July 2.

During the investigation, police learned that one of the suspects was reportedly related to a prominent political figure. Kamran said officers immediately informed senior authorities, following standard procedures for cases involving individuals connected to influential families. He stressed that the relationship did not affect the investigation and that police handled the case strictly on merit.

Addressing reports circulating on social media, Kamran rejected claims that the two women escaped on their own. He said both victims clearly stated that Punjab Police rescued them from captivity, and their statements remain part of the official investigation.

Kamran also referred to an incident involving a duty magistrate. He explained that officers attempted to contact the magistrate but received no response. As a result, the station house officer visited the magistrate’s residence, where a minor incident occurred. Kamran apologized for the situation while emphasizing that police acted to complete the legal process without unnecessary delays.

Investigators traced the suspects through mobile phone location data, which helped police locate and arrest everyone involved. After taking the suspects into custody, officers presented them before the court in handcuffs and obtained their physical remand for further investigation.

The DIG revealed that the first ransom call reached the victims’ father on July 1, providing investigators with an important lead. Police raided a house linked to the suspects, where residents informed them that several young men had recently rented the property. During the inquiry, investigators also received information suggesting that one suspect had family ties to a senior political leader. Police contacted the family to verify the claim and obtained a phone number that helped them continue tracking the suspects.

Kamran added that the foreign embassy requested the immediate departure of the two women after their rescue. Police asked for one additional day to complete their medical examinations and record their statements. He said Lahore Police even offered to cover the cost of their airline tickets to ensure the legal process could conclude smoothly before they left Pakistan.

After completing the medical examinations and recording their statements, authorities facilitated the women’s departure from the country. Kamran also said the case received close attention from the Punjab government. According to him, Punjab Chief Minister directed police to investigate the matter fairly and ensure that everyone responsible faced the law, regardless of their social or political connections.

The investigation remains ongoing as police continue collecting evidence to strengthen the case against the arrested suspects.