LAHORE (Daily Point) — Fashion designer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter Khadija Shah was granted bail by an anti-terrorism court in Quetta on Thursday in connection to the May 9 riots, as reported by The News on Friday.
Shah, who surrendered to Punjab police in Lahore on May 23, had been held in custody for months on allegations of complicity in instigating violent protests following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in a corruption case.
The court rejected Quetta police’s plea for an extension in her physical remand, weeks after she was brought into custody in connection to a murder case on December 11. Shah had been booked under Section 169 of the CrPC and initially detained in Lahore. After a three-day transit remand, she was brought to Quetta, where the judge approved her three-day physical remand. She was held by the Quetta police for seven days for further investigation into the May 9 riots.
Shah was specifically accused of involvement in the attack on military installations, including the Jinnah House where Corp Commander Lahore resided.
As the daughter of former federal minister Salman Shah and a PTI supporter, Shah’s arrest drew attention within PTI circles. Her counsel, Iqbal Shah, filed an application urging the police to present evidence supporting their allegations. He argued that if the police failed to do so, his client should be acquitted from the case.
On November 15, Shah was granted bail in the last of the four cases related to the May 9 incidents. However, on November 17, the Lahore deputy commissioner issued detention orders for Shah for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance in connection with the same events. Section 3 of MPO allows the government to arrest and detain suspected individuals.
The May 9 protests resulted in the arrests of thousands of PTI workers and supporters nationwide, leading to several leaders parting ways with the party. Meanwhile, PTI leader Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas from Sialkot has also been granted protective bail and is expected to contest the polls from Sialkot again.
