In a significant development in the Karsaz accident case, the CCTV footage capturing the tragic incident has been sent to Punjab for forensic analysis. The case involves Natasha Danish, who has been accused of reckless driving that resulted in the deaths of Imran Arif, 60, and his daughter Amna, 22, while injuring three others on August 19.
During the proceedings on Monday, the Investigating Officer (IO) appeared before Judicial Magistrate (East) Muhammad Raza Ansari. Natasha, the prime suspect, attended the court session via video link from the Central Prison for Women, Karachi, as the court granted her a one-day exemption from in-person appearance. The exemption was sought by the defense under Section 540 of the CrPC, citing possible security concerns.
The IO informed the court that the CCTV footage of the accident had been dispatched to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency. This is a routine practice for the Sindh police, given the lack of advanced forensic equipment in the province. The footage is expected to provide crucial evidence regarding the circumstances leading up to the crash.
In addition to this, the IO revealed that a letter had been sent to the UK High Commission to verify the authenticity of Natasha’s UK driving license. The move is aimed at confirming whether the suspect was legally authorized to drive under UK law, which could have implications for her culpability in the case.
The IO also stated that the charges against Natasha had been amended to include Section 100 of the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965, which deals with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This amendment could potentially heighten the severity of the charges she faces, depending on the forensic findings.
Further updates from the IO highlighted that letters had been sent to the relevant union council and the Traffic DIG to assess the damage to public property caused by the accident. However, responses to these letters are still pending.
When questioned by the court regarding the condition of the injured victims, the IO reported that their health had improved, and provided details on the nature of their injuries. Despite these updates, the IO requested a 14-day extension to submit the interim challan, citing the need for additional time to gather the necessary responses and complete the investigation.
The court, however, granted a shorter extension of three days, directing the IO to submit the interim challan by September 5.
