Sindh police chief orders inquiry after alleged drug suspect appears in court sans handcuffs

KARACHI: The Sindh police chief has ordered an inquiry after a video showing a woman accused in narcotics and illegal weapons cases appearing in court without handcuffs went viral on social media.

Sindh Police Inspector General Javed Alam Odho took notice of the incident and directed the Additional Inspector General Karachi to submit a report on violations of standard operating procedures during the suspect’s court appearance.

The police chief also ordered the suspension of officials found negligent and directed the formation of a senior-level inquiry committee to conduct a transparent investigation into the matter.

The suspect, identified as Anmol alias “Pinky”, was presented before a judicial magistrate in Karachi in connection with cases involving narcotics recovery and illegal weapons.

Police told the court that two packets of hashish and other narcotics material were recovered from the suspect, with the seized drugs valued at more than Rs1.5 million. Investigators had sought a 14-day physical remand.

The judicial magistrate, however, sent the suspect to jail on judicial remand.

The cases were registered at Karachi’s Garden police station.

The controversy emerged after footage circulated online showing the suspect appearing in court without handcuffs and allegedly being given protocol by police personnel.

Additional IG Karachi Azad Khan separately sought a report from the DIG South and ordered an inquiry to determine the role of police officials involved.

“Violation of law and SOPs will not be tolerated,” Karachi police said in a statement, adding that action would be taken against those responsible.

Meanwhile, Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar said that further investigation into the suspect’s alleged drug network was under way and suggested the operation extended beyond Karachi to Lahore and Islamabad.

“There is negligence somewhere on the part of the police,” Lanjar said, adding that officials found involved in granting protocol to the suspect would also face action.

He said that the government would continue its crackdown on narcotics dealers and would not pardon those involved in drug trafficking.

Separately, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah praised Keamari police for action against narcotics dealers and directed authorities across the province to intensify operations against drug trafficking.