Foreigners' abduction, sexual assault case: 4 suspects' physical remand extended by 5 days

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>LAHORE: A judicial magistrate on Wednesday granted police custody of four suspects, including the relative of a senior political figure, for another five days in the alleged abduction and rape case involving two foreign women.</p> <p>The suspects were produced before the magistrate at the Cantonment Courts following the expiry of the five-day physical <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2012674/lahore-police-get-custody-of-4-suspects-arrested-for-alleged-abduction-sexual-assault-of-two-foreign-women">remand</a> granted earlier.</p> <p>During the hearing, the prosecution sought an extension of the remand, informing the court that the suspects’ DNA and fingerprint tests had been conducted.</p> <p>A prosecutor told the court that the police still needed to recover the vehicle allegedly used in the crime, along with a laptop, cash and weapons believed to be linked to the case.</p> <p>Advocate Salman Shahid, the counsel for two of the suspects, opposed the request for further physical remand, arguing that his clients had no connection with the alleged offences.</p> <p>The counsel stated that, according to the police’s own version, the matter was not one of rape or abduction but was related to a cryptocurrency dispute.</p> <p>He said the matter fell within the jurisdiction of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).</p> <p>The lawyer further argued that one of his clients worked as a security guard and had no connection with cryptocurrency. At the same time, the other was employed in Islamabad and also had no role in the matter.</p> <p>He alleged that the suspects had been implicated due to media coverage of the case. He claimed that his clients were being subjected to a “media trial.”</p> <p>The counsel also questioned the status of another suspect, identified as “Boss”, asking whether he had been produced before any court despite his arrest.</p> <p>He argued that even if the suspects were eventually acquitted, the damage caused to their reputations by extensive media coverage would be irreversible.</p> <p>After hearing arguments from both sides, the magistrate extended the physical remand of all four suspects for five more days till July 13.</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-1/2 media--right media--embed media--uneven' data-original-src='https://www.dawn.com/news/2013041/how-a-road-accident-and-distress-code-saved-two-foreign-women'> <div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe class="nk-iframe" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:250px;position:relative" src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/2013041" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div> </figure> <p>Last week, the police had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2012477"><u>booked five suspects</u></a> over alleged abduction and sexual assault after two foreign women were rescued. Four of the suspects, including a close relative of a senior political personality, were arrested and later sent on a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2012674/lahore-police-get-custody-of-4-suspects-arrested-for-alleged-abduction-sexual-assault-of-two-foreign-women"><u>five-day physical remand</u></a>.</p> <p>On Sunday, police officials investigating the case told <em>Dawn</em> that all eight suspects nominated over the alleged abduction and sexual assault of the two women, including two high-profile individuals, had been <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2013258"><u>arrested.</u></a></p> <p>On Monday, the remaining three suspects were <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2013365">sent </a>on a five-day physical remand. Meanwhile, the two foreign nationals departed Pakistan on July 3 following their recovery.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.