ISLAMABAD: The son of Justice Mohammed Asif from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) was placed in police custody on Tuesday in connection with a tragic car accident that led to the deaths of two young women. The fatal crash occurred when the victims were struck by a speeding sports utility vehicle (SUV) driven by the judge’s son.
Judicial magistrate Shaista Khan Kundi issued the remand order following a request from the police. The incident took place late Monday night near the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) in Islamabad. According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Secretariat Police Station, the two women, who worked at the PNCA, were riding a scooter when they were hit by a black SUV. They died instantly, and the vehicle fled the scene shortly afterward.
The police managed to trace the SUV using its registration number and found the suspect at a private hospital, where he had reportedly gone for medical treatment. The teenager was subsequently taken into custody, and forensic samples were collected. The vehicle was impounded for further inspection.
The charges against the suspect include sections 279 (rash driving), 322 (manslaughter), and 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Pakistan Penal Code. The investigating officer informed the court that further custody was needed to complete the investigation, including verification of the suspect’s medical report, inspection of the vehicle, and interviews with witnesses.
After reviewing the case, the court granted the physical remand for continued investigation. The bodies of the deceased were sent to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for autopsies. Authorities are also working to gather CCTV footage to determine whether speeding or negligence played a role in the crash. The police assured the victims’ families that the case would be investigated thoroughly and fairly.
In a similar case from 2022, an SUV allegedly driven by the daughter of a Lahore High Court judge was involved in a fatal accident, but the investigation has remained stalled. The case, which occurred near the Sohan Bridge on the Islamabad Expressway, involved the deaths of two individuals, Shakeel Tanoli and Hasnain Ali. A subsequent investigation revealed that the vehicle belonged to a Supreme Court judge, but the accused, Shanzay Malik, was acquitted by a local court earlier this year.
