KARACHI: A judicial magistrate has rejected the post-arrest bail application of Natasha Danish, a suspect involved in a traffic accident and drug case.
The decision was made by Judicial Magistrate (East) Muhammad Raza Ansari, who dismissed Danish’s bail plea on Monday. Danish, who had previously been granted bail in the main case by a sessions court, remained in custody due to a separate drug-related charge. According to police, Danish was allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine (crystal meth/ice) when she was driving an SUV on August 19, leading to a fatal accident.
In his detailed order, Magistrate Ansari expressed disapproval of Danish’s actions, noting her educational background and awareness of the law. He emphasized the serious societal impact of driving recklessly under the influence of drugs, which resulted in two deaths and multiple injuries.
The magistrate also highlighted that the defence failed to sufficiently challenge the applicability of Section 11 of the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order of 1979, which includes various intoxicating substances beyond alcohol. Additionally, the court rejected the defence’s claim that the medical report only indicated methamphetamine presence in urine but not in blood, explaining that the drug’s presence in the body can vary.
The defence’s request for safe custody of the suspect’s samples was also denied, as the court found no evidence of mishandling. The court dismissed concerns about the second FIR, stating it was filed based on the medical report, which held Danish accountable for drug consumption. The court ruled that the case was state-driven, rendering the no-objection affidavits from the victims’ families irrelevant.
Dissatisfied with the magistrate’s ruling, Danish’s defence counsel, Aamir Mansoob Qureshi, has filed an appeal under Section 497 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the sessions court, seeking post-arrest bail.
