Dar’s relatives: PTI seeks probe into crypto deals

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday demanded an independent probe into alleged cryptocurrency-linked dealings involving relatives of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, following the arrest of Muhammad Raza Dar in a high-profile Lahore criminal case. Muhammad Raza Dar – identified in parts of the media as a grandson of Ishaq Dar and described by investigators as a key suspect – was arrested after police registered a case in Lahore over allegations involving the abduction, extortion, and rape of two foreign nationals, from the Netherlands and Venezuela. In a statement, PTI spokesman Sheikh Waqas Akram called on the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to launch what he described as a transparent, independent forensic inquiry into cryptocurrency wallets, financial transactions, digital footprints, and any alleged international links connected to Muhammad Raza Dar and Ali Dar. PTI alleged that Muhammad Raza Dar first came into contact with the two women in Singapore in October 2025 during what it described as a cryptocurrency promotion venture. The party further claimed he later facilitated business visas for the women’s travel to Pakistan. According to PTI’s allegations, the women arrived in Lahore on June 29 and were subsequently taken to a residence in the Defence Housing Authority area, where they were allegedly held at gunpoint, coerced into transferring cryptocurrency assets – including a reported USD 100, 000 – and threatened with organ harvesting, before being subjected to sexual assault. The party linked the alleged incident to a wider network of cryptocurrency ventures, naming projects such as “Qoinnt” and “Planet tokens, ” and suggested a broader pattern of criminal activity tied to business interests associated with the Dar family. PTI further accused the government of shielding powerful figures from accountability, arguing that the case raises serious questions of influence and institutional protection. Warning of potential diplomatic fallout, PTI said the allegations could strain Pakistan’s relations with the Netherlands and Venezuela. Reiterating its demand, PTI called for Ishaq Dar’s resignation from his posts as deputy prime minister and foreign minister, insisting it was necessary to ensure an impartial investigation and restore public trust. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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