Jail superintendent seeks video-link hearing for Anmol Pinky over security concerns

KARACHI: A senior official of the Central Prison for Women on Monday asked a judicial magistrate to allow suspected cocaine dealer Anmol Pinky to appear before the court through a video link, citing security concerns linked to her movement from jail to the City Courts.

According to the application filed before Judicial Magistrate (South) Sitara Kainat, Pinky was due to be produced in person on Monday in two cases registered against her, including matters relating to narcotics possession and an illegal weapon. The jail superintendent informed the court that the accused is an undertrial prisoner lodged at the women’s prison.

The application stated that because of the suspect’s high-profile status, taking her from the prison to the court premises would pose a "significant security risk" to the public, law enforcement personnel and the suspect herself. On that basis, the superintendent requested that she not be brought physically to court and instead be allowed to attend the next hearing through a video link.

The prison official also told the court that the required arrangements for a video-link appearance were available and would be put in place by the jail administration if the court issued directions in that regard.

Cases against the suspect

Last month, Pinky was arrested in two cases lodged at the Garden police station concerning the possession of drugs and an unlicensed weapon. Before that arrest, she had already been booked in several criminal cases, bringing the number of cases pending against her to more than a dozen.

The latest request relates specifically to her scheduled appearance in the two Garden police station cases. The jail authorities have linked the plea for remote attendance to security issues surrounding her production before the court.