Foreign woman's coded message to father helped in her rescue

Investigators probing the alleged abduction and sexual assault of two foreign women in Lahore have discovered that one of the complainants included a secret message in a voice note recorded under duress, a development that ultimately helped trigger an international rescue effort.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, investigators found that the suspects forced one of the women to record a voice message at gunpoint as part of an effort to demand ransom from her family.

The recording was reportedly made in the presence of the abductors and sent to the victim’s father to inform him of her situation.

Sources familiar with the investigation said the woman managed to insert a concealed signal into the message despite following a script provided by the suspects.

At the end of the recording, she used the word “Carlitos”, which her father immediately recognised as a pre-arranged distress indicator.

Investigators said the father interpreted the term as a coded warning that his daughter was in serious danger and being forced to communicate under coercion.

Upon recognising the signal, the father contacted the relevant authorities without delay.

According to the investigation, the information provided by the father prompted an international alert from the Netherlands.

Following the alert, Pakistani law enforcement agencies initiated action to trace the complainants and investigate the allegations.

Reporter: Irfan Malik