Renowned fashion designer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter, Khadija Shah, has been granted bail by an anti-terrorism court in Quetta in connection with the May 9 riots. Shah, who had surrendered to Punjab police in Lahore on May 23, was held for months following allegations of her involvement in the violent protests that ensued after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. The court rejected the plea for an extension in her physical remand and released her, dismissing the Quetta police’s request. Shah was accused of attacking military installations, including the Jinnah House.
She is the daughter of Salman Shah, a former federal minister and Punjab cabinet member, and was known for her strong support for PTI. The May 9 protests led to the arrests of numerous PTI workers and supporters nationwide. Additionally, PTI leader Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas from Sialkot has also been granted protective bail. The court’s decision comes after Shah was named in several cases connected to the May 9 incidents and was detained in Lahore under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance. The release of Khadija Shah and the granting of protective bail to Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas are significant developments in the aftermath of the May 9 events.