Investigators in Pakistan probing the abduction and gangrape of two foreign women in Lahore are now pursuing a fresh line of inquiry centred on a possible cryptocurrency-related dispute, according to local media reports. The case has drawn intense scrutiny because one of the principal accused, Muhammad Raza Dar, is a relative — and reportedly a grandson — of Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

What the Survivor Told the Magistrate

The new development followed a survivor recording her statement before a judicial magistrate as part of the ongoing investigation. In her testimony, she alleged that a group of armed men entered the house where she and her friend had been staying, restrained both women, and locked them inside a room.

According to her statement, as reported by Pakistan-based ARY News, the attackers repeatedly demanded access to a computer and cryptocurrency funds. 'They asked where the computer with the money was, and I told them it was in the green bag,' she told the magistrate.

She further alleged that she was struck on the head during captivity, and that one of the armed men threatened both women with death if they refused to hand over the money. 'He told me if we gave them the money, we would live. If we didn't, they would kill us,' she stated.

Alleged Sexual Assault and Ransom Payment

The survivor also described being sexually assaulted by two of the accused while a third suspect stood guard outside. 'They were laughing, slapped me and told me to keep quiet when I started crying,' she reportedly stated in her testimony.

According to her statement, Raza Dar allegedly used her mobile phone to send messages to people in her contact list requesting money. While no one initially responded, the mother of the second woman later informed the suspects that $100,000 had been arranged. The survivor alleged that before the two women were allowed to leave, Raza Dar informed them that he had received the funds.

How the Women Were Rescued

The survivor claimed that she and her friend were eventually freed after the vehicle being driven by the main accused met with an accident while they were being transported towards the airport. The two women — one from the Netherlands and the other from Venezuela — were allegedly abducted on 29 June and subsequently gangraped in Lahore.

Cryptocurrency Link and Prior Connection

During the course of the investigation, police said it had emerged that Raza Dar first met the two women in Singapore the previous year, where they were reportedly associated in a cryptocurrency venture. Investigators further stated that he had arranged business visas for the women to facilitate their travel to Pakistan — a detail that has deepened suspicion of a premeditated, financially motivated crime.

Arrests and Legal Proceedings

Police have so far arrested four accused in connection with the case, while one suspect remains at large. A local court on Friday remanded the arrested men to five days of police custody. The high-profile nature of the case — given Raza Dar's reported family ties to the Deputy Prime Minister — has placed Pakistan's political establishment under considerable public pressure to ensure an independent and transparent investigation.