In a significant development, a Cantt Court in Lahore on Friday authorized a five-day physical remand for Ahmad Raza Dar and three co-accused linked to the assault of two foreign nationals. The Judicial Magistrate Azhar Mahmood issued the order after the suspects were presented by Investigation Officer Abdul Rehman Butt.
Official documents confirm the identities of the accused as Ahmad Raza Dar, son of Mazhar Hayyat Dar from Shahdara, Lahore, who was named in the original First Information Report (FIR). The other three—Sikandar Aziz Khan, son of Aziz ul Hakeem Bhatti from DHA Phase 2, Islamabad; Hassan Raza, son of Muhammad Raza Ali from DHA Phase 4, Lahore; and Sajid Ali, son of Zulfiqar Ali from Chichawatni, Sahiwal District—were formally implicated and arrested on July 2 through a supplementary statement by the complainant.
During the hearing, Assistant District Public Prosecutors Mian Sajid and Nazar Iqbal represented the state. The Lahore Police had initially sought a 14-day physical remand to facilitate thorough interrogations, recover weapons used in the crime, and retrieve the extorted ransom money.
After reviewing the police submissions and arguments, the court observed that the charges fall under Sections 365-A (Kidnapping for ransom) and 375-A (Rape) of the Pakistan Penal Code. Notably, these offenses are subject to the provisions outlined in the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act, 2021.
Ultimately, the magistrate granted a five-day physical remand and directed the police to present all four accused before the court on July 8. Additionally, a copy of the judicial order has been sent to the Sessions Judge, Lahore, for administrative monitoring.
