Calls Grow for Pakistan Deputy PM Ishaq Dar to Resign After Relative Held in Lahore Gangrape Investigation

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is facing mounting political pressure after a relative was arrested in connection with the alleged abduction and gangrape of two foreign women in Lahore, prompting demands for his resignation from Senator Faisal Vawda.

The controversy has intensified as opposition voices and independent lawmakers questioned the government's handling of the high-profile investigation, alleging attempts to shield influential individuals linked to the case.

The alleged crime took place on June 29 and involved two foreign nationals—one from the Netherlands and the other from Venezuela—who were reportedly abducted and sexually assaulted in Lahore, according to Pakistani police.

Investigators have so far arrested four suspects, while one accused remains absconding. A Lahore court has remanded the arrested men to five days of police custody to facilitate further investigation.

Police have identified Muhammad Raza Dar as the prime suspect in the case. Multiple Pakistani media reports have described him as a grandson or close relative of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, though the minister has not publicly commented on the allegations.

According to investigators, Raza Dar first met the two women in Singapore last year during a cryptocurrency-related business venture. Police allege that he later arranged business visas for them to travel to Pakistan, where the alleged offences subsequently took place.

The case has sparked widespread political debate after Senator Faisal Vawda called for Ishaq Dar to step down, arguing that the allegations had damaged Pakistan's international reputation.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Vawda questioned how Ishaq Dar could continue representing Pakistan abroad while a close relative faced serious criminal allegations.

"He 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.

The senator further argued that resigning would help protect Pakistan's international image while allowing the investigation to proceed without political controversy.

Vawda also accused both the federal government and the Punjab provincial administration of attempting to influence the direction of the investigation.

He alleged that authorities were trying to shift the focus of the case towards allegations of extortion instead of rape and claimed there were efforts to facilitate the early departure of the two foreign women from Pakistan before the investigation was completed.

The senator additionally criticised the silence of senior government leaders, noting that neither the federal government nor prominent members of the ruling coalition had publicly condemned the alleged crime.

Vawda currently serves as an independent senator despite being elected with the support of coalition partners, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which leads the federal government.

The allegations have attracted significant public attention due to the involvement of foreign nationals and the reported links between one of the accused and a senior cabinet minister. The case has also raised concerns over political influence, accountability and the treatment of high-profile criminal investigations in Pakistan.

Authorities have not announced any charges against Ishaq Dar, and there is no indication that he is personally under investigation. The allegations currently relate to his relative, who remains in police custody as investigators continue gathering evidence.

The Lahore police investigation remains ongoing, with officials expected to question the arrested suspects further while efforts continue to apprehend the remaining absconding accused.