A Karachi court has granted police a three-day physical remand of a woman accused of running an organised narcotics supply network across the city, after overturning an earlier judicial order that had sent her to jail custody.
Anmol alias Pinki was taken into custody on Tuesday during a joint raid conducted by police and a civilian intelligence agency at her residence in the Garden area. She is accused of supplying cocaine and other narcotics across Karachi through a structured network allegedly operating in upscale localities, including Clifton and Defence Housing Authority.
Police officials claim she is a “most-wanted” suspect with multiple prior cases registered against her under narcotics and arms laws. According to investigators, a large quantity of drugs, chemicals and an unlicensed pistol were recovered from her possession during the raid.
Authorities further allege that she managed a distribution system using riders, including women, to deliver narcotics and evade law enforcement detection. They also claim her network’s clients included students as well as high-profile individuals, and that it generated significant daily revenue.
The case drew public attention after a video circulated on social media showing the suspect being escorted inside a courtroom without handcuffs. The footage prompted criticism of police procedure and led senior officials to take notice.
The Karachi Additional Inspector-General ordered an inquiry and sought a report from the South Deputy Inspector-General of Police, while the Sindh Home Minister demanded an explanation over what he termed improper protocol extended to an accused person.
Following the incident, three police officers, including officials from the Garden police station, were suspended for alleged negligence. Authorities said disciplinary action would be taken against any personnel found responsible for violating standard operating procedures.
Initially, a judicial magistrate had sent the suspect to judicial custody. However, police challenged the order before the district and sessions court, arguing that custodial interrogation was necessary to trace the wider network and identify additional links in the alleged supply chain.
On Wednesday, the court accepted the revision application, set aside the magistrate’s order, and granted the police a three-day physical remand, directing that custody be transferred back to investigators for further interrogation.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing and that efforts are being made to dismantle what they describe as a wider narcotics distribution network operating in Karachi. The provincial home department has directed authorities to ensure a transparent inquiry and compliance with legal procedure throughout the investigation.