Faisal Kamran: Foreign Women Satisfied with Police Response Before Leaving Pakistan
LAHORE: Faisal Kamran, Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Lahore, said the foreign women involved in the high-profile Raza Dar case expressed satisfaction with the police’s handling of the incident before departing Pakistan.
Speaking at a press conference, Kamran said the case received immediate attention after it was brought to the notice of the Maryam Nawaz, who directed police to trace the victims within a very short timeframe. He added that authorities were instructed to proceed strictly according to the law after discovering that a relative of an influential individual was allegedly involved.
Kamran stated that the women told police they had initially been frightened but appreciated the professional treatment they received throughout the investigation. According to him, they said they were satisfied with Pakistan’s justice system and requested a Pakistani flag as a souvenir before leaving the country. Police arranged for the flag late at night before escorting them to the airport.
The DIG said the investigation has led to the recovery of several pieces of evidence, including a victim’s mobile phone and the vehicles allegedly used during the crime.
He revealed that the first emergency call to Pakistan’s “15” police helpline came from Spain, where one of the victim’s family members had contacted authorities after receiving ransom demands and threats. Police used information provided by the family to trace the suspects.
According to Kamran, investigators tracked the prime suspect, Raza Dar, using Safe City surveillance cameras after gathering information from his family. He was later contacted by police, asked to surrender, and subsequently arrested.
Kamran said the suspect allegedly told the women he was taking them to the airport after claiming the financial dispute had been resolved. However, they became suspicious when the vehicle changed direction. Following a traffic accident near Bhatta Chowk, the women escaped from the vehicle, took shelter in a nearby shop, and were safely rescued by police officers who quickly reached the scene.
Rejecting reports that police had not recovered the women, Kamran said the entire rescue operation was documented. He added that police coordinated with diplomatic missions to verify the victims’ identities. Authorities confirmed that one of the women was a Venezuelan national residing in Spain, while the Embassy of the Netherlands cooperated closely with Pakistani authorities throughout the legal process.
He further said the women were presented before a magistrate to record statements as required by law before being provided with security and escorted to the airport. According to Kamran, the women again thanked Pakistani authorities for their cooperation and departed the country after receiving the Pakistani flag they had requested.
