Khadija Shah was apprehended by the Punjab Police in Lahore on Tuesday for her alleged involvement in attack on the Lahore Corps Commander House on May 9 following the arrest of Imran Khan in a corruption case.
Despite her husband and other family members being arrested earlier, Shah had evaded surrendering to the authorities despite stating her intention to do so.
Shah comes from a notable background, being the daughter of Dr. Salman Shah, a former member of President Pervez Musharraf’s finance team and an adviser in the Punjab government during the Usman Buzdar administration.
In a recent audio message lasting over 16 minutes, Shah admitted to being a PTI supporter and confirmed her participation in the protest outside the Lahore Corps Commander’s House. However, she denied any wrongdoing, including inciting violence.
Punjab Interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi had previously announced that all women involved in the May 9 attacks on military installations would be apprehended, emphasizing the government’s commitment to taking action.
Both the army and federal government have vowed to hold accountable all individuals responsible for the attacks on military installations, intending to try them under the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act.
Following the attacks, numerous PTI workers have been detained across the country, leading to several party leaders severing ties with the organization due to the events that took place on May 9.
In her recently released voice note, Shah expressed her decision to surrender to the police and acknowledged her mistakes. She admitted to making “inappropriate” tweets against the military leadership out of anger and emotion, which have now been deleted.
Shah revealed the difficult circumstances she had faced in the past five days, citing the late-night raid on her house where her husband and father were reportedly abducted. She claimed that her husband was subjected to mistreatment in front of their children, and even domestic workers were allegedly subjected to torture.
While maintaining that she had not violated any laws or the country’s constitution, Shah disclosed her participation in numerous PTI protests over the past year. She also mentioned being a dual citizen and seeking assistance from the embassy without providing further details.
