Court extends police custody of alleged drug queenpin 'Pinky' till May 22

KARACHI: A judicial magistrate in Karachi on Saturday remanded alleged drug kingpin Anmol alias “Pinky” into police custody till May 22 in a narcotics case, as investigators widened their probe into what authorities describe as a large inter-provincial drug trafficking network.

Anmol, arrested earlier this week from her apartment in Karachi, is facing multiple criminal cases related to narcotics trafficking, illegal weapons possession and other offences. Police claim she had already been wanted in several cases before her arrest.

During proceedings on Saturday, magistrates in Karachi South, Central and Malir heard police requests seeking her physical custody in a total of 15 cases.

In one of the key cases registered under the Sindh Control of Narcotic Substances Act at the Specialised Investigation Unit police station, Karachi Central Special Sunday Magistrate Abdul Sattar granted six-day physical remand instead of the 14 days requested by investigators.

According to the court order, the judge found the investigating officer’s request “cogent and reasonable” and directed authorities to ensure medical examination and treatment for the suspect after she alleged maltreatment in police custody.

Police told the court that Anmol was wanted in connection with a 2025 narcotics case in which a delivery rider allegedly working for her had earlier been arrested in Karachi’s Central district.

Separately, another magistrate granted police two-day custody of the suspect in a murder case registered at Baghdadi police station, while in the remaining 13 cases, courts rejected police requests for further physical remand and instead sent her on judicial remand.

During one court appearance, Anmol shouted that police were attempting to force a statement from her and claimed she had been arrested in Lahore “22 days ago” before being brought to Karachi. She also alleged torture in custody and insisted that the cases against her were fabricated.

According to court proceedings in the murder case, investigators alleged that Anmol operated an organised drug network involving riders, suppliers, dealers, manufacturers and managers across multiple cities.

Police further claimed that the deceased in the murder case had died after allegedly consuming narcotics linked to Anmol’s network.

Her defence counsel rejected the allegations, arguing that evidence had been manipulated and claiming that Anmol’s former husband, Rana Nasir, was attempting to implicate her due to personal disputes following their separation.

Investigators have meanwhile expanded the inquiry into the alleged narcotics operation after preliminary findings suggested links to a broader inter-provincial and possibly international network.

Karachi Police earlier stated that information had surfaced regarding the involvement of foreign nationals and operatives in Lahore connected to the drug trade allegedly run by Anmol.

Authorities in Punjab have also reopened three old cases against her and her brothers in Lahore and are reportedly considering seeking her custody from Sindh police.

Police say they are continuing efforts to arrest additional suspects linked to the network, including individuals allegedly involved in supplying and distributing narcotics across the country.