Famous Pakistani designer and PTI supporter Khadija Shah arrested for ‘leading attack on Jinnah House’ on May 9
Khadija Shah reportedly turned herself in at the CIA Iqbal Town police station in Lahore on Tuesday. Twitter photo
Prominent fashion designer and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter Khadija Shah has been taken into custody in relation to the assault on Jinnah House that took place in Lahore following the arrest of party chairman Imran Khan on May 9.
Meanwhile, Khadija was handed over to police by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), on Wednesday till May 30 for an identification parade.
Khadija turned herself in at the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Iqbal Town police station on Tuesday, Express News reported. Police officials confirmed the arrest of the fashion designer.
The daughter of former finance minister Salman Shah and the brains behind the fashion label Elan, Khadija Shah is suspected to have been among those leading the attack on the Jinnah House, which is currently used as the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander.
A few days earlier, in an audio clip circulating on social media before her surrender, Khadija Shah could be heard explaining the immense hardship her family has faced over the past few days.
"They invaded my house during midnight and abducted my father, brother, and husband," she stated, noting that her father, who is diabetic, and her brother were detained.
Khadija clarified that she believes in democracy and the Constitution, despite the charges levied against her. "I have not committed any crime and I am a Pakistani who believes in democracy and the Constitution."Following the attacks, thousands of PTI workers have been rounded up across the country, with several leaders also parting ways with the party over the May 9 mayhem.
In her voice note, Khadija said she was going to surrender to the police and admitted her mistake.
Khadija acknowledged that she had made "inappropriate" tweets against the military leadership in anger and emotion, but now they have been deleted.
“I am going to surrender to the police. I have taken this decision because the last five days remained very tough for me,” she said.
“They (authorities) barged into my house at midnight and abducted my husband and father. They roughed up my husband in front of our children... my domestic workers were also subjected to torture,” she claimed.
The PTI supporter went on to say she did not violate any law or the country's Constitution, adding that she had participated in many PTI protests during the past year.
Prior to her surrender, police claimed to have unsuccessfully raided two houses in Gulberg and one in Bahria Town to apprehend Khadija. It was claimed that she had left her flat dressed in a burqa an hour before the police arrived and was using a friend's mobile phone for communication.
