A judicial magistrate denied post-arrest bail to Natasha Danish, the driver involved in the Karsaz Road accident after medical tests revealed she was under the influence of methamphetamine (crystal meth) at the time of the crash.
The accident, which took place on August 19, saw Danish’s speeding Toyota Land Cruiser collide with three motorcycles and a car, before overturning on Karsaz Road. The tragic incident claimed the lives of 60-year-old Imran Arif and his 22-year-old daughter, Amna, while three others were injured. Danish was subsequently arrested and charged with manslaughter.
Following the accident, a medical examination was conducted on Danish at the request of the victims’ counsel, which confirmed that she was under the influence of crystal meth. Based on this report, the police filed an additional case against her under Section 11 (drinking liable to tazir) of the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order, 1979.
Last week, Danish had been granted bail in the manslaughter case after the victims’ family pardoned her and withdrew their objections. However, a separate bail plea was filed in connection with the drug charge.
During the bail hearing, Danish’s defence counsel argued that the police had tampered with the blood and urine samples used to incriminate her. State prosecutor Muzafar Soomro opposed this claim, arguing against the bail application.
After reviewing the arguments, Judicial Magistrate (East) Muhammad Raza Ansari rejected the bail plea. In his ruling, the judge noted that the defence had failed to provide convincing evidence regarding the alleged tampering of samples, and there was no record to support the claim. The court also dismissed the nine objections raised by Danish’s family, stating they had “no legal value.”
The judge expressed concern over a “highly educated” individual driving under the influence of drugs, emphasizing that granting bail in such a case would set a negative precedent for society.
Danish’s legal team has since challenged the decision in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Shahid Ali Memon.
