Back from US and straight to jail

Woman doctor remanded in custody for hurling abuse at policemen

APakistani woman doctor, Shehla Shakeel Sethi, who recently returned to the country from the United States, was yesterday sent to Adiala Jail on judicial remand for abusing policemen in the Diplomatic Enclave.

She also faces charges of forcing her entry into the restricted area a day earlier.

However, at her counsel’s request, a duty magistrate of Islamabad directed the police to get medical tests done on her and said, if the doctors found her to be a cardiac patient, she could be admitted to hospital instead of being shifted to jail.

‘Under mental stress’

The judge, while turning down her counsel’s plea for her bail, directed the Investigation Officer of the case to show him the video clip in which she is seen hurling abuse at the police.

Earlier, Dr Shehla’s counsel told the court his client had recently returned from the US and was under mental stress when police instead of guiding her intercepted her vehicle.

However, according to police, when she approached the Diplomatic Enclave Gate No. 1, she introduced herself as a woman doctor who had just returned from the United States.

According to the police prosecutor, she further said she had an appointment at the US embassy. She was denied entry as her vehicle had no number plate and she had to return without visiting the embassy.