PTI supporter and fashion designer Khadija Shah was released by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Quetta on Thursday due to lack of evidence in a case relating to incitement to violence on May 9. Khadija had been arrested in cases of attacks on the Lahore corps commander’s house, Askari Tower, and torching police vehicles near Rahat bakery in the cantonment on May 9. She had been granted bail in one case on November 15, but was re-arrested on November 17 under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance. However, on December 11, the Punjab government withdrew her detention orders “with immediate effect.” Despite this, the Quetta police filed a request for her transit remand, which was granted.
Her lawyer argued that Khadija’s name was included in cases related to the May 9 violence, but there was no concrete evidence against her. The prosecution department ultimately dropped her name from the case due to lack of evidence, leading to her release. PTI leader Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari expressed happiness at Khadija’s release, and activist Jibran Nasir congratulated her on her release after seven months of imprisonment. Actor Osman Khalid Butt also commented on the delay in justice for Khadija and other peaceful protestors.