KARACHI: A local court on Wednesday extended remand of two suspects in police custody in a case pertaining to the death of a model allegedly during an abortion.

Police claimed to have booked Rubina, a nurse, and Atif Shah, her assistant, over their alleged negligence during an abortion that caused death of the female model.

The body of the victim was found near the Mochko graveyard within the remit of the Mochko police station on Feb 20.

On Wednesday, the investigating officer produced both suspects before a judicial magistrate (West) to seek extension in their physical remand in police custody.

The IO mentioned that a woman, said to be a model, was found dead under mysterious circumstances, adding that her body was taken to the Civil Hospital Karachi for medico-legal formalities and then kept at a morgue for want of identification.

The IO further mentioned that the victim was identified by her brother in the morgue. Her body bore several marks of injection, particularly on her hands. In his statement the brother told the police that his sister was missing for the past few days.

The IO further informed that both the suspects during interrogation disclosed that a man had brought the woman to their clinic in Gulzar-i-Hijri to have an abortion. However, the patient’s condition worsened during the procedure and she died, the IO mentioned, adding that the suspect (who had bought the woman to the facility) then dumped her body at the graveyard.

He pleaded to the court to remand the suspects in police custody as they were required to be interrogated to know the whereabouts of their third accomplice, who reportedly fled the city.

Allowing the request, the judge extended remand of the suspects in police custody for three more days and told the IO to submit a progress report on next hearing.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2019