LAHORE: A sessions court indicted eight defendants, including Raza Dar, on Tuesday in a case concerning the alleged sexual assault and kidnapping of two foreign women.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ali Gondal framed the charges after jail authorities produced the defendants before the court. All pleaded not guilty.
Defence C police registered the case following allegations that the women had suffered sexual assault, unlawful confinement and threats during a visit to Pakistan.
According to the first information report (FIR), the complainants had entered a business relationship with Dar in Singapore before he invited them to Pakistan.
The FIR alleges that suspects held the women at gunpoint at a residential property in Lahore’s Defence area and demanded $1.5 million. Those allegations remain subject to trial.
Read More: Foreign Women Rape Case: Police Report Clears Five Suspects of Sexual Assault
An earlier police investigation report distinguished between the roles attributed to different suspects. Investigators accused three men of sexual assault while recording allegations of illegal detention and extortion against five others.
That police assessment does not establish which specific counts the court has now framed against each defendant. The written charge sheet is needed to confirm the position.
The case involves one woman from the Netherlands and another from Venezuela. Available accounts place the alleged detention in June.
Reporting also differs on how the women reached safety. The initial account describes police intervention after a relative sought help, while later reporting of the investigation describes an escape after a vehicle accident. Prosecution witnesses will give evidence at a subsequent hearing.
