Sindh Inspector General Javed Alam Odho on Tuesday vowed transparency in investigations into drug queenpin Anmol alias Pinky, noting that the probes stretched across multiple “domains”.
Anmol was arrested last week from her apartment in Karachi in connection with the possession of narcotics and an unlicenced weapon. She is in police custody till May 22 in two of the 15 cases active against her, while her judicial remand in other cases extends till May 30.
Responding to media queries at an event held at the Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Sindh police chief said multiple agencies were involved in probing Anmol’s alleged criminal activities.
“There are now different institutions involved […] so there will be transparency, and secondly, each [authority] will work under its domain,” he affirmed.
“You referred to one bank account with Rs30 million, indicating a huge quantum, so you are absolutely correct. We are working on this exact aspect,” IG Odho said in response to a question by a reporter.
He highlighted that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) were among the institutions working to probe crimes unfolding in the investigation process.
The officer explained that the FIA would investigate if the matter pertained to money laundering and the NCCIA would act when it came to the “issue of reaching out to children and students using cyberspace”.
“We have already written to the FIA and included them in our investigation,” the IG said, explaining that the police could not directly obtain details about bank accounts or probe money laundering.
“You are right that this is not just one account; it is our apprehension and hope that many such accounts will be found,” he said, adding that the FIA would also register cases.
Speaking about Anmol allegedly selling drugs using “cyberspace”, the Sindh IG said the NCCIA was now “a part of our team as well”.
Responding to another query, IG Odho acknowledged that many “crimes were migrating” to cyberspace. He cited the example of extortion, noting that culprits sitting abroad were involved as opposed to older methods of making physical threats.
“Similarly, the business of narcotics has transferred to cyberspace as well, and we are working together with NCCIA and FIA on this,” he highlighted.
“Sensitive federal institutions are also with us, so I believe that, God willing, we will get all the information to a great extent,” he added.
Addressing the strict security present with Anmol during her court appearances, he emphasised that the police were keeping several “risks” in mind.
“The nature of her business is such that there is a risk of many names emerging. One risk is that someone can harm her, so [investigations] do not proceed ahead,” he said.
Anmol, during her court appearances, has alleged she was facing pressure from the police “to take names” of politicians and other influential persons.
Odho went on to cite police expertise, according to which suspects facing multiple cases remained “under stress”. “The objective is not only to protect others from them, but also to protect them from themselves,” he said.
At the same time, he stressed, “We have not provided security to her as such; only what was appropriate and needed.”
During his media talk, the Sindh IG also emphasised that the police were “separating” drug users, from whom narcotics were recovered, and suppliers, who were buying drugs in bulk and circulating them ahead.
He said that the latter were “more dangerous because they are also acting as suppliers and have a role in ruining society”.
“We will not let them go under any circumstances,” he vowed.