A Karachi sessions court on Friday denied the post-arrest bail application of Natasha Danish, the driver involved in the fatal Karsaz Road accident, in a separate drug case. Natasha was initially arrested following an August 19 crash that claimed the lives of 60-year-old Imran Arif and his 22-year-old daughter, Amna, while also injuring three others.
Natasha had previously been granted bail in the manslaughter case after the victims’ family pardoned her without demanding any blood money. However, a separate legal battle ensued when it was revealed that she had been under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident. A medical report confirmed the presence of crystal meth in her system, leading to additional charges under Section 11 of the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order, 1979 (PEHO).
The rejection of Natasha’s bail comes after her counsel, Aamir Mansoob Qureshi, challenged the initial denial by a judicial magistrate earlier in the week. The case was taken up by Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Shahid Ali Memon, who had reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from both the defence and state prosecution.
Natasha’s lawyer argued that only one case should be filed for the same incident, but state prosecutor Syed Khursheed Abbas Bukhari countered, stating that the investigation was still ongoing and the final charge sheet had not yet been submitted. Judge Memon upheld the state’s position, rejecting Natasha’s plea for bail in the drug case.
Natasha’s legal troubles began following the fatal accident, where she was arrested on-site for manslaughter. However, her situation worsened after it was determined that she had been driving under the influence. Despite her lawyer’s claims that her blood and urine samples had been tampered with, Judicial Magistrate (East) Muhammad Raza Ansari dismissed the allegations, affirming that the evidence against her remained intact.
As the investigation progresses, Natasha remains in custody, facing both manslaughter and drug charges. The court’s decision adds a new layer of complexity to the high-profile case, which continues to draw significant public and legal attention.