Pakistan: ATC Court Grants Bail to PTI Activist Khadija Shah

Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Quetta has granted bail to prominent fashion designer and PTI activist Khadija Shah.

Upon the completion of her 14-day physical remand, Khadija Shah appeared before the Quetta ATC, which released her due to insufficient evidence in the case. On December 16, the same court had extended Shah’s police custody for an additional seven days. The Lahore administration, on its part, had ordered her detention for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance.

Khadija Shah, renowned for her activism within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the daughter of former finance minister Salman Shah, finds herself entangled in a legal situation that continues to unfold against the backdrop of politics and activism. The genesis of Shah’s legal predicament lies in her arrest during the nationwide unrest on May 9 and 10, triggered by the apprehension of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The ensuing protests turned violent, encompassing attacks on military and state installations.

On the same day, Shah shared videos on her social media platforms, documenting her participation in the PTI protest outside the Jinnah House, the residence of the Lahore corps commander. Subsequently, numerous protesters were apprehended, and Shah faced multiple charges related to her alleged involvement in vandalism and attacks on security installations.

It is noteworthy that Shah voluntarily surrendered to the police on May 23 after her name became linked to the May 9 riots, leading to her arrest on the same day. The designer faced implication in four cases associated with the events of May 9. On November 15, an ATC had granted Shah bail in the fourth and final case related to the May 9 protests. However, on November 17, she was re-arrested under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance for an additional 30 days.