People on social media are praising Dr. Chuni Lal, head of the psychiatric department at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), for his alleged bold stance on the mental health of Natasha Danish, the accused in the Karsaz traffic accident case. However, the reality is different.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Dr. Lal initially described Natasha as mentally ill. However, when Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, daughter of President Asif Ali Zardari and sister of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, tweeted about the Karsaz accident, Dr. Lal changed his position. He then stated that Natasha is mentally fit and has no history of mental health issues.
No Dawn – It wasn’t a fast moving SUV – it was a woman who disgustingly showed no remorse (toxicology report pending) & should be held accountable. Cannot exploit the very serious issue of mental health when you are actively sitting on multiple business boards. https://t.co/MuDgLe4hyN
— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) August 21, 2024
Sources also suggest that Dr. Lal’s initial assessment was influenced by Natasha’s affluent family. Some sources also claimed that he was offered Rs.6 million for terming Natasha mentally ill to help her avoid punishment for the deaths she caused in the August 19 accident in Karachi.
Under the influence and alleged bribe, Dr. Lal had initially told the media that Natasha was mentally ill.
On August 20, Dr. Lal admitted Natasha to JPMC and prevented the police from presenting her in court based on her mental health status. However, Bakhtawar’s tweet on August 21 prompted the Sindh government to take action. Later that day, Dr. Lal revised his stance, asserting that Natasha was mentally fit and had no previous mental health issues, contradicting earlier claims from her family and lawyer.
On the same day, Natasha was presented in the district court, where the judge remanded her to jail.
