CRIME
Senator Faisal Vawda Demands Resignation of Deputy PM Ishaq Dar Over Relative’s Arrest in Lahore Assault Case
Detailed Report
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The Demand for Resignation: In an explosive political development, independent Senator and former federal minister Faisal Vawda has demanded the immediate resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Vawda’s demand follows the high-profile arrest of four suspects in Lahore—including Muhammad Raza Dar, who has been identified as a close relative of the Foreign Minister—on charges of armed abduction, extortion, and the gang rape of two foreign women
- The Core Allegations: Speaking on the matter, Vawda fiercely criticized the ruling setup, alleging that Pakistan is being run "like a family corporation." He asserted that the state apparatus only mobilized to rescue the victims—citizens of the Netherlands and Venezuela—after an emergency phone call from a foreign embassy forced their hand. Vawda further alleged that high-level state actors are actively executing "full efforts" to suppress the sensitivity of the criminal proceedings to shield influential figures.
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Alleged Legal Manipulation: The Senator raised serious concerns regarding potential manipulation of the judicial process. He claimed that state elements are attempting to downgrade the legal gravity of the case by limiting the focus strictly to financial extortion rather than sexual assault. Vawda questioned why the victims' statements recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) have not been made public, warning that the bureaucracy is rushing to deport the survivors to their home countries before a comprehensive trial can take place. He additionally cautioned that "favorable medical reports" could be synthetically procured to weaken the prosecution's stance.
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Broadside at Rights Activists: Vawda concluded his remarks by slamming mainstream political entities and civil society networks for a total lack of public accountability. He expressed dismay that no major political party has issued a formal statement of condemnation and fiercely criticized "so-called champions of women's rights" for maintaining total silence while the nation’s international reputation faces severe scrutiny.