A judicial magistrate in Karachi on Monday extended the physical remand of alleged drug trafficker Anmol, widely known as “Cocaine Queen” Pinky, by four more days in connection with a murder case registered at Baghdadi Police Station.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the proceedings were held inside the Central Jail complex under strict security arrangements after authorities transferred the accused from Baghdadi Police Station earlier today.
During the hearing, the investigating officer informed the court that a murder case had been registered against the accused and requested further physical remand for interrogation and investigation purposes.
The Judicial Magistrate South accepted the request and granted police an additional four-day remand.
Earlier in the day, the accused claimed before journalists and her lawyer inside the courtroom that she had been taken into custody nearly 20 days ago and subjected to torture during detention.
The Prosecutor General of Sindh had already indicated that police would seek an extension in the accused’s physical remand to continue the investigation.
Meanwhile, Darakhshan Police also approached the sessions court against an earlier judicial remand order, arguing that investigators required physical custody of the accused for questioning in serious criminal cases.
Police officials maintained that the previous decision to send the accused to jail instead of granting physical remand had affected the investigation process.
Following initial proceedings, the hearing continued behind closed doors because of the sensitive nature of the case and heightened security concerns surrounding the accused.
Earlier today, Pinky was transferred under tight security from Baghdadi Police Station to Central Jail and later produced before a judicial magistrate inside the jail complex in Karachi.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the accused made several allegations during the court proceedings, claiming she had been held in custody for 20 days and subjected to physical abuse during interrogation.
Speaking to her lawyer inside the courtroom, Pinky alleged that she had been assaulted while in custody and claimed that an investigating officer slapped her shortly before she was brought into court. She further alleged that police officials instructed her not to mention certain videos connected to the case.
During informal interaction with journalists in the courtroom, the accused claimed she had been pressured to name individuals, including actor Muneeb Butt and Raja Pervez, while being warned against mentioning specific videos related to the investigation.
She also alleged that she was subjected to torture during detention and remarked that authorities could obtain “even a 100-day remand” if they wished. Reports said the accused also exchanged heated remarks with the investigating officer during the hearing.
The investigating officer attempted to stop the accused from speaking in court, stating that she remained in police custody and should restrict her conversation to legal counsel during the proceedings.
Meanwhile, the judicial magistrate for South Karachi ordered journalists to leave the courtroom, directing that only lawyers connected to the case would be allowed to remain present.
Defence counsel Liaquat Gabol submitted a power of attorney on behalf of the accused before formal proceedings began. During the hearing, the magistrate asked the accused to confirm her identity, to which she responded that her name was Anmol.
The investigating officer informed the court that a murder case had been registered against the accused and requested further physical remand for investigation purposes.
The hearing later continued in camera, behind closed doors.
Separately, the Karachi Police approached the Sessions Court against the judicial remand order, filing a revision petition seeking physical remand of the accused for further interrogation, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Monday.
In the application, Darakhshan police argued that the accused was wanted in serious criminal cases and described her as a “clever and dangerous suspect”, insisting that further investigation required physical custody.
The plea also claimed flaws existed in the magistrate’s earlier order, which had sent the accused to jail instead of granting physical remand.
On the other hand, Anmol alias Pinky has been shifted from Baghdadi Police Station to Central Jail in Karachi, where further proceedings in the case are now conducted inside a jail-based courtroom due to security concerns.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, authorities have implemented an extensive security plan for the accused, with police sources confirming that more than 40 officers, including one SP, two SDPOs, three SHOs and female police personnel, have been deployed for her protection and monitoring.
Officials said police and female staff were assigned in two separate shifts to maintain continuous surveillance of the accused. Before her transfer to jail, snipers had also been positioned on rooftops surrounding the Baghdadi Police Station lock-up because of reported security threats.
Police sources stated that CCTV monitoring around the lock-up and entry points remained active at all times, while food provided to the accused was thoroughly checked before delivery. Backup generators were also kept operational to avoid disruption during any power outage.
At the time of the transfer operation, the SDPO Baghdadi was assigned overall command, while the SHOs of Baghdadi, Risala and Garden police stations were appointed ground commanders. Quick response teams were also placed on alert to deal with any emergency situations.
Authorities further restricted access around the court and lock-up areas, allowing entry only to authorised individuals. The SP Lyari was tasked with supervising the accused’s transfer to court, while a special escort squad was formed for her transportation.
Separately, an internal inquiry has also been launched into allegations that the accused received unusual police protocol during her arrest and court transfer.
During the investigation led by DIG Irfan Baloch, officials discovered that CCTV cameras at Garden Police Station were reportedly not functioning at the time of the accused’s arrival and subsequent transfer to court.
Investigators questioned police officers about who ordered the SHO Garden to present the accused before court in haste. However, according to sources, the SHO avoided naming any senior officer before the inquiry committee.
The committee is also examining whether the CCTV cameras were already faulty or deliberately switched off, as no footage exists of the accused’s arrival at the station or her movement to court.
Officials involved in the inquiry further noted that standard operating procedures were allegedly not properly followed during the arrest and transfer process, raising concerns that procedural lapses could potentially benefit the accused during legal proceedings.
Reporters: Miraj Akhtar, Mubashar Hassan, and Jawad Asif