Punjab police have arrested a key suspect, identified as Waheed alias ‘Boss’, in Okara in connection with the alleged abduction and gang rape of two foreign women in Lahore, sources said on Monday.

According to police sources, the suspect was taken into custody during an operation in Okara, where initial interrogation reportedly yielded important information related to the case.

Investigators said that a review of Waheed’s criminal record revealed his alleged involvement in several serious offences, including terrorism-related cases, armed encounters with police, and the illegal trade and transplantation of human organs.

The sources said a separate case involving illegal organ transplantation had previously been registered against him.

Further scrutiny of the suspect’s criminal history was under way, police maintained.

Investigators also alleged that other individuals involved in the assault on the foreign women had acted as gunmen for Waheed.

The suspect had allegedly threatened the women with the sale of their organs, the sources added.

According to the sources, Waheed was an addict and used methamphetamine, commonly known as “Ice”, although police said formal confirmation would depend on the completion of the investigation.

In a related development, a Lahore court granted five-day physical remand of three suspects arrested in the case.

Judicial Magistrate Azhar Mahmood approved the remand of suspects identified as Nasir, Nawaz and Rizwan after they were produced before the court under tight security by Defence-C police.

Prosecutors had sought a 14-day physical remand, arguing that further investigation was required to recover weapons and determine the ages of the accused.

After hearing the prosecution’s arguments, the court remanded the three suspects into police custody for five days for further investigation.