KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Monday extended the physical remand of alleged drug queenpin Anmol alias Pinky by four days in connection with a murder case.
Anmol was arrested last week from her apartment in Karachi in connection with two cases pertaining to the possession of narcotics and an unlicenced weapon. She was already booked in multiple criminal cases prior to her arrest, taking the number of cases active against her to at least 15.
On Monday, on the completion of her two-day physical remand in the murder case, Anmol was presented before a South judicial magistrate at the Judicial Complex inside Central Prison Karachi.
It may be mentioned that the alleged drug peddler was already on physical remand in a separate narcotics case till May 22, while her judicial remand in 13 other cases extends till May 30.
Earlier in the day, a district judge had accepted Investigation Officer (IO) Rashid Nazeer’s request to conduct the hearing at the Judicial Complex.
Subsequently, she was presented before the magistrate, where Anmol reiterated her claims of being subjected to torture and maltreatment while in police custody.
Anmol further alleged she was being coerced to “take names”.
The judge asked why Anmol’s medical examination had not been carried out, as ordered on Saturday.
On the IO mentioning that authorities had her voice recordings showing her involvement in drug-related activities, Anmol claimed they were AI-generated.
Public prosecutor Shakeel Abbasi argued on behalf of the state, while Advocate Liaquat Gabol appeared as Anmol’s counsel in the case.
Abbasi informed the magistrate that the drugs allegedly recovered from Anmol had yet to be sent for forensics, and she needed to be investigated further regarding her “network”.
Gabol claimed his client was forced to record statements under duress. He reiterated this when speaking to the media later, saying Anmol was being urged to “take names of politicians and others”.
The police sought a nine-day extension in Anmol’s physical remand, while the defence counsel opposed the request. After hearing both sides, the magistrate reserved his decision, which is expected to be announced later today.
At the outset of the hearing, some police personnel reportedly attempted to prevent mediapersons from covering the proceedings, allegedly threatening legal action against them if they did so.
Separately, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) also sprang into action, beginning preparations for Anmol’s arrest.
It filed an application before an additional district and sessions judge, seeking a copy of the police record in the narcotics case against Anmol.
The application noted that Anmol’s arrest was required in a CTD case, in which her brother had been acquitted but she was on the run.
More to follow
