KARACHI: Natasha Danish, the primary suspect in the Karsaz Road accident that tragically claimed two lives and injured four others, is currently in custody under a 14-day judicial remand.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many demanding justice and expressing disbelief over claims made by Danish’s lawyer that she is suffering from mental illness.
One widely circulated claim on social media, challenging the lawyer’s assertion, is that Natasha Danish serves on the boards of multiple companies, thereby questioning her alleged mental health issues. However, this claim has been debunked. It is true that a Natasha is on the boards of several companies under the Gul Ahmed conglomerate, but this individual is not Natasha Danish.
The Natasha who holds these positions is in fact Natasha Iqbal, sister of Danish Iqbal, the CEO of Gul Ahmed , and husband of the accused, Natasha Danish. Natasha Iqbal has no involvement in the accident, other than being the sister-in-law of the suspect, who was driving the SUV at the time of the incident.
The misidentification has led to notable figures, including Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, daughter of the late Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari, publicly criticizing media outlets such as Dawn for allegedly downplaying the incident.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Bhutto Zardari expressed her discontent, stating, “You cannot exploit the very serious issue of mental health when you are actively sitting on multiple business boards.”
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Similarly, Shehzad Ghias, a popular podcast host on YouTube’s Pakistan Experience, echoed the mistaken belief in a monologue addressing the tragedy.
The central argument posed by Bhutto Zardari, Ghias, and many others is that if Natasha Danish is indeed mentally ill, as claimed by her lawyer, it raises questions about how she could hold significant roles in multiple companies. While this is a legitimate concern, it does not apply to this case, as the suspect is not affiliated with any of the companies in question.
It is also important to note that in Pakistan, it is common for business ownership to involve multiple family members on the board of directors, which may have contributed to the confusion in this case.
