Court told suspect admitted to JPMC psychiatry ward

A Karachi court on Tuesday granted the police one-day custody of a woman who was arrested in connection with Monday’s deadly car crash on Karsaz Road and ordered the investigation officer (IO) to produce her before the relevant magistrate today (Wednesday).

She was arrested after her speeding SUV killed a man and his daughter on Monday evening.

The IO, Rehan Ahmed, could not produce the suspect before the special duty magistrate saying that she had been admitted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre's (JPMC) psychiatry ward for treatment and was not in a position to be brought to the court.

He also placed on record a medical certificate said to be issued by Associate Professor Dr Ghooni Lal, in-charge of the psychiatry department. As per the certificate, the woman had been admitted to the psychiatry department at the hospital for treatment and she was not able to be produced before the court.

"Currently, she is confused and not in a good state of mind for appearing before the court and interrogation," wrote the doctor.

The IO requested the magistrate to grant two-week physical remand of the suspect for interrogation, verification of her driving licence and completion of other formalities.

During the hearing, the magistrate asked the IO whether the woman possessed a driving licence at the time of her arrest, to which the police officer answered in the negative.

Her lawyer Amir Mansoob Qureshi, however, informed the court that his client had a British, not a Pakistani driving licence. To this, the court questioned how a British licence would be valid in Pakistan.

The counsel argued that his client's mental health was not well, therefore, she should be released on bail.

Turning down the defence counsel's plea, the court remarked that the duty magistrate, who performs duties on holiday, does not have the authority to grant bail. It may be noted that Tuesday had been declared a public holiday in Sindh on account of the Urs of Shah Latif.

"Contentions of the investigation officer and perusal of the material available on record satisfies the court that for the purpose of remand under section 167 of CrPC the physical custody of accused is very much necessary but in this case the physical custody of the accused has not been produced before the court," noted the magistrate.

"Prima facie appears that accused is not in a position to be brought before the court at once without personal suffering and risk to health, therefore, custody is hereby sanctioned to investigation officer for one day," he ruled.

The magistrate ordered the IO to make arrangements for keeping the woman in safe custody during the sanctioned period and produce her before the relevant magistrate on August 21, Wednesday, "if she sufficiently recovers and [is] able to be produced, however, in case she doesn't sufficiently recover, investigation officer may apply to the concerned court for further orders."

An FIR was lodged at the Bahadurabad police station under the sections 320 (punishment for qatl-i-khata by rash or negligent driving), 337-G (punishment for hurt by rash or negligent driving), 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Pakistan Penal Code.