Sindh police chief says alleged drug suspect ‘Pinky’ lived mostly in Lahore

KARACHI: Sindh Police Inspector General (IG) Javed Odho said on Tuesday that alleged drug suspect Anmol alias “Pinky” mostly resided in Lahore, as authorities intensified investigations into narcotics trafficking networks and related financial transactions.

Speaking at a press conference, Odho urged the public and media not to “glamorise” the suspect, warning against turning accused drug traffickers into public celebrities.

“We are continuing operations against narcotics dealers with the support of the Sindh government,” he said, adding that more than 1,000 individuals involved in drug-related crimes had been arrested.

Odho said that police would not spare those involved in the narcotics trade and called on citizens to cooperate with law enforcement efforts by sharing information and appearing in court as witnesses.

“There is a difference between those who use drugs and those who sell them,” he said.

The police chief said that the Federal Investigation Agency had been brought into the investigation to examine banking transactions linked to the suspect, adding authorities believed multiple accounts could be involved.

He said the accused was facing several criminal cases, including cases registered by Pakistan’s anti-narcotics authorities.

Odho also said that Sindh Police had collected more than 500 million rupees through challans and warned that action would also be taken against vehicle number plate tampering.

He said that a task force was being formed to strengthen anti-narcotics operations and appealed to the public to assist authorities with information related to drug trafficking activities.

Earlier on Monday, “Pinky” was produced before a court at the Judicial Complex under tight security.

Police brought the suspect to the Judicial Complex in connection with a case filed at the Baghdadi police station pertaining to alleged drug use and murder

The accused was produced before a judicial magistrate, where police sought an extension in her physical remand.

Media persons and members of the public were barred from entering the court premises.

During her appearance, the accused shouted upon seeing media persons, prompting police to move journalists away from the courtroom entrance and bring the situation under control.

She also allegedly issued threats to the investigating officer inside the courtroom.

Speaking informally to journalists, she claimed she had been subjected to violence in custody.

“The SIO slapped me, and the IO threatened me and told me to name Muneeb Butt and Raja Pervez,” she alleged, adding that she had been detained for 20 days.

Her lawyer, Liaquat Gabol, submitted a power of attorney in court during the proceedings.

At the start of the hearing, the investigating officer requested further physical remand of the suspect, stating that a murder case had been registered against her.

At the start of the hearing, the investigating officer requested further physical remand of the suspect, stating that a murder case had been registered against her.

The court later directed removal of media and the public from the courtroom, after which the hearing continued in-camera.

Separately, the court granted physical remand of the suspect till May 22 in a case registered at the SIU police station

 The court extended her physical remand by two days in the Baghdadi police station murder case..

In two cases registered at Garden police station related to narcotics and illegal weapons, and in multiple cases registered at Gizri (six cases) and Darakhshan (five cases), the suspect was sent on judicial remand.

In a separate case registered at the Sachal police station, the suspect was sent on judicial remand by a Malir court.

Earlier, “Pinky” was presented in a Karachi court where she told a magistrate that she had been tortured, falsely implicated and forced to name other individuals during interrogation.

The suspect was produced before a judicial magistrate in Karachi’s South district by police for a hearing related to narcotics and other cases, where investigators sought an extension of her physical remand.