By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Khadija Shah, a prominent fashion designer and supporter of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, was released by an anti-terrorism court on Thursday after spending more than seven months in jail on charges of inciting violence during a protest in May.
Shah, a US national, and the granddaughter of a former army chief was arrested in Lahore on May 9, along with dozens of other PTI activists, after a protest erupted following a brief arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan on graft charges.
She was accused of involvement in attacks on the residence of the Lahore corps commander. She faced multiple cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act, which carries harsh penalties and allows for prolonged detention without trial.
Shah was granted bail in all four cases in November but was immediately re-arrested under a public order ordinance that allows the government to detain anyone for up to 90 days without charge.
She challenged her detention in the Lahore High Court, which ordered her release on December 11. However, before she could walk free, the police in Quetta, the capital of the southwestern province of Balochistan, obtained a transit remand from an anti-terrorism court to take her into custody for another case related to the May 9 violence. She was flown to Quetta and remanded in police custody for 10 days.
Her lawyer, Syed Iqbal Shah, said the Balochistan prosecution department dropped her name from the case on Thursday, citing a lack of evidence.
He said the anti-terrorism court ordered her release after the police failed to produce any proof of her involvement in the Quetta incident.
“She is innocent and has been victimized for her political views,” the lawyer said. “She has suffered a lot in jail, and we are glad that she is finally free.”
Shah’s release was welcomed by her family, friends, and fellow PTI supporters, who had campaigned for her freedom and accused the government of violating her human rights.
Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, a PTI leader said he was “extremely happy” that she was on her way back to her family.
“Her resilience and strength are an inspiration to us all,” he wrote on his X account. “Wishing her a peaceful time with her family and may Allah give her strength to continue to be the strong, wonderful person she is.”
Jibran Nasir, a lawyer and activist who had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking Shah’s release, congratulated her on his X account and said her prolonged imprisonment was a way to punish her without a trial.
“Nine women arrested in relation to May 9 incidents are still behind bars paying the price for their political beliefs,” he wrote. “We will continue to fight for their freedom and justice.”
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
