Pakistan

Who is Natasha Iqbal, the influential woman behind the Karsaz Road accident?

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Digital Desk

2 years ago

KARACHI: A road accident happened on Monday evening on Karachi’s Karsaz Road killing a man and daughter and injuring four people has everyone debating on the internet demanding justice for the victims.

Initial reports confirmed that the speeding Toyota Land Cruiser lost control and hit a motorcycle before plunging onto the service road. As a result, two people died on the spot, while four persons sustained serious injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for immediate medical attention.

The woman accused, currently in police custody on one-day physical remand, identified as Natasha Iqbal is a resident of Karachi’s KDA Scheme-I, which is adjacent to Karsaz Road.

It was later revealed that she is the wife of Karachi’s prominent businessman Danish Iqbal, who is chairman and CEO of Metro Power Group, a business conglomerate that owns various independent power generation companies, biofilm, glass, and property ventures.

As per the Metro Power Company website, accused Natasha Iqbal is the Chief Executive of Metro Capital (Private) Limited, and JSDN Electric Limited. Moreover, she holds the position as a member of the Board of Directors of Metro Power Company Limited.

She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Metro Power’s associate companies including Swift Storage & Services (Private) Limited, Gul Ahmed Bio Films Limited, Gul Ahmed CBMC Glass Company Limited, Metro Solar Power Limited, Metro Property Network (Private) Limited, and Metro Storage & Services (Private) Limited.

What happened in Aftermath of Accident?

Following the fatal accident which claimed two lives and injured four, a case was lodged at the Bahadurabad Police Station against the female driver, identified in the first information report (FIR) as Natasha.

After the incident happened at around 6:30 pm on Monday, she was taken into custody by Police and Rangers and shifted to the police station. The accused driver, who also received a head injury, was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for a medical check-up.

Eyewitnesses alleged that the woman driving the vehicle was intoxicated and tried to flee from the spot but was caught by the citizens and subsequently handed over to the police.

The deceased, identified as 62-year-old Imran Arif and his 23-year-old daughter Amina, and the injured were brought to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities and treatment. Four others, including 55-year-old Abdul Salam, sustained injuries in the accident.

Police registered a case after an FIR was filed by Imtiaz Arif, brother of the deceased at the Bahadurabad police station. The charges of culpable homicide and negligence were incorporated in the FIR. Imtiaz said his brother and niece died due to the suspect’s “negligence, freewheeling and speeding”.

Is Natasha being Saved?

As per details available with Daily Ausaf/ABN News, Natasha, a relative of Chairman Rangoonwala Group of Companies and wife of Danish Iqbal, was arrested on Monday night under Sections 320, 337G, 279, and 427 of PPC. She spent the night in her home instead of in police custody, sources said.

Natasha Danish Iqbal was supposed to flee abroad on Tuesday morning when police stopped her and shifted her back to the police station in the Karsaz road accident case, sources told Daily Ausaf.

Moreover, Natasha’s husband said that she had been taking ‘medication for mental stress’. “Such patients are kept in an isolation ward and they do not remember anything. She took out the vehicle without [anyone’s] permission,” her lawyer said in court today.

However, the question arises how can a mentally ill person hold multiple top positions in Pakistan’s top-notch conglomerate Metro Power Company as mentioned above in the story.

One day physical remand

Karachi’s local court on Tuesday sent Natasha Iqbal on a one-day physical remand after the investigation officer, Amir Altaf, had sought a seven-day remand of the suspect.

The City Court special magistrate directed the authorities to bring the suspect to the court tomorrow (Wednesday) with a proper medical report.

During the court hearing, an investigation officer submitted a report about the suspect’s non-appearance before the court, saying that she was not in the condition to be allowed for an appearance before the court.

“Since the mental condition of the accused is critical, she could not, therefore, be brought to the court as per doctor’s instruction,” the investigation officer maintained.

The Suspect’s lawyer, Amir Mansoob appeared before the court and alleged that his client was a psychiatric patient and had been under treatment for her condition for five years. “Such patients are kept in an isolation ward and they do not remember anything. She took out the vehicle without [anyone’s] permission,” he said.

For now, Natasha was denied bail due to non-appearance before the court and is still in police custody. She will be produced before the court as per the special magistrate’s directives.

Digital Desk