- May 9 case: ATC rejects Khadija Shah’s medical examination petition
LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court in Lahore rendered a decision on Monday, rejecting a plea that requested a medical examination of Khadija Shah, a supporter of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and a well-known fashion designer. Shah is considered the prime suspect in the attack on Lahore Corps Commander’s House, which is commonly referred to as Jinnah House.
ATC judge Abhar Gul, who had reserved the verdict earlier in the day, also denied permission for Shah’s family to visit her. During the court proceedings, Shah’s legal representative pleaded with the court to obtain her medical report from the prison authorities and to allow her family to meet her. The lawyer informed the court that Shah’s family has been unable to see her since her arrest.
The day prior to the court decision, PTI Chairman Imran Khan accused the government of mistreating his party members, particularly women, while in custody. Khan’s remarks were in response to a late-night press conference held by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Saturday. Sanaullah claimed that intelligence agencies had intercepted a conversation indicating that the PTI was planning two separate actions, which he referred to as “dramas.” Khan criticized Sanaullah, accusing him of attempting to cover up and preempt negative stories that were about to be exposed by the media.
It is important to note that on May 23, the Punjab police confirmed the arrest of Khadija Shah, and she was subsequently handed over to the police for an “identification parade” until May 30.
Khadija Shah comes from a notable background. She is the daughter of Dr. Salman Shah, who was a member of former President Pervez Musharraf’s finance team and had served as an advisor in the Punjab government during the Usman Buzdar administration. Additionally, Shah is the granddaughter of a former army chief.
Shah is accused of leading the attack on Lahore Corps Commander’s House during the disturbances on May 9. Identifying herself as a PTI supporter, she had been in hiding since authorities initiated a crackdown to apprehend those involved in the ransacking of public and military installations following Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case. In an audio message lasting over 16 minutes, Shah admitted to being a PTI supporter and participating in the protest outside Lahore Corps Commander’s House. However, she denied any wrongdoing or incitement to violence.
Shah claimed that she decided to surrender to the police due to the difficult circumstances she had endured in the past five days. She recounted how authorities had forcibly entered her house at midnight, abducting her husband and father, and subjecting her husband to physical assault in front of their children. She also alleged that her domestic workers were mistreated. Shah asserted that she had not violated any laws or the country’s constitution and had participated in numerous PTI protests over the past year.
Additionally, Shah revealed that she held dual citizenship and was seeking assistance from the embassy, although she did not provide further details. She accused the Punjab government of fabricating a case against her, designating her as the prime suspect and mastermind behind the vandalism on May 9, while accusing the provincial authorities of victimizing her. She clarified that she was neither an office bearer nor an official member of the PTI, emphasizing that she protested as an individual supporter of Imran Khan.
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