Pakistan Deputy PM Ishaq Dar faces resignation calls after relative held in Lahore gangrape case

A political row has erupted in Pakistan after Senator Faisal Vawda demanded the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, following the arrest of one of Dar's relatives in the alleged abduction and gangrape of two foreign women in Lahore. Vawda also accused the federal government and the Punjab provincial administration of protecting the minister's relative in the high-profile investigation.

The alleged incident involved two women, one from the Netherlands and the other from Venezuela, who police say were abducted and gangraped in Lahore on June 29.

So far, police have arrested four suspects, while one remains absconding. A Lahore court remanded the arrested men to five-day police custody on Friday. Police identified Muhammad Raza Dar as the prime suspect.

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Investigators said Raza Dar first met the two women in Singapore last year, where they were reportedly involved in a cryptocurrency venture together. Police said he later arranged business visas for their visit to Pakistan.

Vawda demands Ishaq Dar step down

Reacting to the case, Vawda alleged that Pakistan was being "run like a family corporation" and referred to the prime suspect as the "alleged grandson" of Ishaq Dar.

"He (Raza Dar) was arrested only after the intervention of the relevant foreign embassy. After such serious allegations, how can Ishaq Dar continue to represent Pakistan before the world as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister?" Vawda said in a post on X.

"If there is any concern for Pakistan and its international image, Ishaq Dar should resign immediately," he said.

Alleges attempt to change direction of probe

Vawda, who was elected to the Senate with the support of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the coalition partners in the federal government, does not represent any political party.

He further alleged that efforts were being made to alter the focus of the investigation.

"Attempts are being made to limit the case to extortion rather than rape, while arrangements are underway to send the foreign victims back to their country as quickly as possible."

He also criticised the government's response, drawing attention to the fact that neither the federal government nor politicians from the ruling party had issued a statement condemning the incident.