Relatives of a father-daughter duo have forgiven a woman from a prominent Pakistani business family who caused a tragic accident involving a luxurious SUV, according to her lawyer on Friday.
The incident, which occurred on August 19, drew significant backlash as the victims, Imran Arif and his daughter Amna Arif, were from a lower-middle-class background. Natasha Danish, who lost control of her car on Karsaz Road, also injured three motorcyclists in the accident.
Videos of the incident, which went viral on social media, showed Natasha Danish appearing disoriented and unremorseful. The footage revealed that her SUV had struck Imran and Amna from behind, causing their motorcycle to fly.
Imran, who worked as a paper seller, and his daughter, employed at a private firm, were killed in the crash.
During a court session earlier on Friday, Barrister Uzair Ghouri, representing the victims’ families, stated that the families had forgiven Natasha in the name of Allah. The victims’ family submitted an affidavit to this effect in court.
The defense argued that Natasha had been undergoing mental health treatment since 2005. An agreement between the victims’ families and Natasha was presented to the judicial magistrate overseeing the trial, leading to her bail.
The decision led to accusations on social media that the family had accepted blood money. However, Barrister Uzair Ghouri refuted these claims, stating, “The bereaved families have forgiven the accused in the name of Allah and it is baseless rumors that they have taken blood money (Diyat in Islamic Shariah laws) to forgive her for the deaths.”
Under Sharia law in Pakistan, the victim’s family can forgive an accused, even if the crime resulted in death. This law, known as Qisas and Diyat, allows for “punishment by causing similar hurt” or “compensation payable to the heirs of the victims.”
Defense lawyer Barrister Amir Mansoob confirmed that the court had granted Natasha bail, allowing her to travel freely.
