Pakistan: Crypto dispute emerges in foreign women gangrape case involving Dy PM Ishaq Dar’s relative

The ongoing probe in Pakistan in connection with the abduction and gangrape of two foreign women have led to a fresh line of investigation, with officials pointing towards a possible cryptocurrency-related dispute behind the high-profile case.

Notably, Muhammad Raza Dar, a key accused in the matter, is a relative of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, IANS reported.

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Local media reports have even claimed that Raza Dar is a grandson of Ishaq Dar.

This comes after one of the survivors recorded her statement before a judicial magistrate as part of the ongoing investigation. In her testimony, the womanclaimed that Muhammad Raza Dar received $100,000 in exchange for securing her release.

As per the copy of the survivor’s statement obtained by ARY News, she informed the magistrate that a group of armed men entered the house where she and her friend had been staying.

The woman alleged that both of them were restrained and locked inside a room by the attackers, while Raza Dar 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,” ARY News quoted the survivor as saying.

Further, she claimed to have been struck on the head while being held captive. Also, it has been alleged that one of the armed men threatened them with death if they failed to hand over the money being demanded.

“He told me if we gave them the money, we would live. If we didn’t, they would kill us,” she told the magistrate.

According to reports, the survivor described an incident during which she was sexually assaulted by two of the accused while another suspect stood guard outside.

“They were laughing, slapped me and told me to keep quiet when I started crying,” she is believed to have stated during her testimony before the magistrate.

As per the woman’s statement, Raza Dar allegedly used her mobile phone to send messages to people in her contact list requesting money.

While nobody responded to them initially, the mother of the second woman later informed the suspects that $100,000 had been arranged.

Among the two women, one is from the Netherlands and the other from Venezuela. They were allegedly abducted on June 29 and subsequently gangraped in Lahore.