KARACHI: Police in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi registered a new case against the main suspect in a high-profile hit-and-run that killed two people after tests confirmed she was under the influence of methamphetamine, popularly known as ice, when she brought her vehicle onto the road.
CCTV footage of the accident was widely circulated on social media, showing a Toyota Land Cruiser allegedly driven by Natasha Iqbal, the wife of well-known businessman Danish Iqbal, hitting a motorbike from behind, resulting in the death of a female student and her father. Five others were also injured in the incident.
Initially, the defense lawyer told a local court she was undergoing psychiatric treatment to explain why she looked disoriented following the accident while seeking exemption for her from court appearance.
However, the hospital authorities later said the suspect’s family could not produce any evidence of her psychiatric treatment after securing her blood and urine samples.
“Suspect Natasha, wife of Danish Iqbal, ... was under the influence of methamphetamine (ice) at the time of the incident at 1830 hours,” the new police report said, registering her case under Section 11 of The Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order, 1979.
The legal provision deals with the prohibition of drinking alcohol, saying that any Muslim caught violating the law can be punished with up to three years in prison, whipping up to 30 lashes, or both.
Speaking to Arab News, Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed confirmed the medical report and said the case was filed on its basis.
“Chemical analysis report is positive for methamphetamine (ice) in the urine sample,” she said briefly. “Hence, it was confirmed that she had methamphetamine in her system at the time [of the accident].”
The hit-and-run case sparked intense social media outrage, with people suspecting the police were not investigating the case properly and saying it reflected impunity for the rich in Pakistan.
Police file new case after Karachi hit-and-run suspect tests positive for meth
https://arab.news/8f3gd
Police file new case after Karachi hit-and-run suspect tests positive for meth
- Two people were killed, five injured when a Toyota Land Cruiser in Karachi hit a motorbike from behind
- Natasha Iqbal, wife of a prominent businessman, was allegedly behind the wheel at the time of accident
Pakistan says it seized 32 square kilometers inside Afghanistan as border clashes escalate
- Security official describes ‘limited tactical action’ in Gudwana after Afghan assaults
- Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militants as UN, China and Russia urge restraint
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has seized a 32-square-kilometer area inside Afghanistan following overnight fighting, a security official said on Saturday, as cross-border clashes between the two countries escalated sharply.
A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troops carried out a “limited tactical action” in the Gudwana area opposite the Zhob sector along the frontier, capturing Afghan territory after responding to attacks on Pakistani positions.
“On the night of Feb. 26/27, posts opposite the Zhob sector launched anticipated physical attacks on multiple Pakistani positions,” the official said, referring to fighters linked to Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, whom Islamabad identifies as Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA).
“In response to aggressive unprovoked fire and physical attacks, Pakistan security forces launched a limited tactical action on the night of Feb. 27/28 in the general area of Gudwana with a view to capture TTA Tahir Post,” he continued, adding that 32 square kilometers of Afghan territory were seized.
The official said special combat teams crossed the border after preparatory bombardment, supported by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets providing “real-time battlefield awareness.”
He said 24 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and 37 wounded, with no Pakistani casualties reported.
The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Taliban authorities in Kabul of any territorial loss in the Gudwana area.
The latest clashes erupted after Pakistani airstrikes targeted what Islamabad described as militant hideouts inside Afghanistan over the weekend, triggering retaliatory fire along the frontier and sharply escalating long-running tensions. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering Pakistani Taliban militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation that Afghanistan denies.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday evening that 352 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 535 wounded since the latest phase of hostilities began.
Tarar said Pakistani strikes had destroyed 130 check posts, 171 tanks and armored vehicles and targeted 41 locations across Afghanistan by air. Those figures could not be independently verified.
The United Nations, as well as China and Russia, have called for restraint.
The United States said Pakistan has the right to defend itself against cross-border militancy.
