A Pakistani court on Wednesday formally indicted eight suspects, including Muhammad Raza Dar, the grandson of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, in connection with the gang rape of two foreign women. The indictment took place before Lahore’s Additional District and Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ali Gondal, following allegations that the victims were kidnapped and assaulted after arriving in Lahore for a business trip in June.
All eight accused individuals pleaded not guilty to the charges during the proceedings. Judge Gondal has directed the prosecution to present their witnesses on December 9 to allow the formal trial to commence. The suspects, who were produced before the court, currently remain in judicial custody.
The case involves two foreign nationals, identified as Stephanie Adnana Mau-Arun of the Netherlands and Astrid Robinson Baracho of Venezuela. According to reports, the women allegedly met Raza Dar in Singapore in 2025 and were invited to Pakistan to discuss a cryptocurrency investment. Upon arriving in June, the women were allegedly held captive at a house in Lahore’s Defence Housing Authority and coerced into transferring $19,500 under threats from armed men.
Police in Punjab had previously filed a report that cleared Raza Dar and four of his associates of the charges, instead naming three of his employees as the perpetrators. However, the court has now proceeded to charge all eight individuals. Medical examinations conducted on the women confirmed they had been raped. The victims, who reported being threatened with knives and guns, eventually escaped after the vehicle transporting them to the airport was involved in an accident. They have since returned to their home countries after providing statements.
Key facts
- The court indicted eight suspects, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar's grandson, Muhammad Raza Dar.
- The victims are nationals of the Netherlands and Venezuela.
- The trial is scheduled to begin on December 9.
- Victims alleged they were held captive and forced to transfer $19,500.
- Medical examinations confirmed the women had been subjected to rape.
Background
The victims had previously invested over $500,000 in a cryptocurrency venture with the accused after an initial meeting in Singapore in 2025, but they reportedly failed to receive promised returns on their investment prior to the incident in Lahore.
Source: Times of India, Hindustan Times
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