The teenage son of Justice Mohammed Asif of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) was remanded into police custody on Tuesday in a case where two young women lost their lives after being hit by a speeding sports utility vehicle (SUV).
Judicial magistrate Shaista Khan Kundi issued the remand order on the police’s request.
According to a FIR registered at the Secretariat Police Station, the accident occurred late on Monday night near the PNCA in Islamabad, when a black SUV allegedly driven by the judge’s son struck two girls who worked at the PNCA. The victims were riding a scooter when they were hit by the SUV and reportedly died on the spot. Police reported that the vehicle fled the area immediately after the collision.
The FIR, lodged on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Muhammad Asghar, states that police traced the vehicle through its registration number and later reached a private hospital where the suspect had reportedly been taken for medical treatment.
He was subsequently taken into custody, and medical and forensic samples were collected, and the vehicle was impounded for examination.
Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 322 (manslaughter) and 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Pakistan Penal Code have been invoked in the case.
The investigating officer informed the court that further custody was required to complete the investigation, including verification of the suspect’s medical report, vehicle inspection and eyewitness statements.
After reviewing the case record and police request, the court approved physical remand of the suspect for further investigation. The bodies of the deceased were shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for an autopsy.
Police said efforts were underway to obtain CCTV footage and determine whether speeding or negligence was involved, while authorities assured the families of the victims that the case would be investigated strictly on merit.
Justice Asif’s cause list cancelled: Separately, the registrar office of Islamabad High Court (IHC) cancelled the cases cause list for the court of Justice Muhammad Asif due to his unavailability. The cases of single and division bench of Justice Muhammad Asif were adjourned without further proceeding. Justice Asif has been on leave this day.