Khadija Shah incited people to riot on May 9: Lahore CCPO

LHC adjourns hearing on designer's plea seeking contempt action over arrest in undisclosed FIR

LAHORE:

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore claimed on Monday that designer Khadija Shah was involved in inciting people to create a law and order situation and cause anarchy and chaos in response to the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan on May 9.

The CCPO said this before the Lahore High Court (LHC), which was hearing Khadija's plea seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against police higher ups for arresting her in connection with another FIR.

The petitioner claimed that the police deceived the court by submitting that only two FIRs were lodged against her in response to Khadija's petition seeking details of FIRs registered against her.

Khadija maintained that after the LHC division bench granted her bail in two FIRs, she was arrested in another FIR.

In the first round of proceedings, the law officer told the court that Shah had been arrested for allegedly abetting in Rahat Bakery arson case.

At this, Khadija’s counsel argued that the LHC had granted her bails in two FIRs, adding that the police had submitted in its report that she was named in two FIRs only. It is astonishing that the police had earlier revealed two FIRs before the court but have now arrested Khadija in a third one, contended the petitioner.

Read Designer Khadija gets bail in May 9 riots cases

LHC’s Justice Ali Baqar Najafi directed the CCPO Lahore to appear before the court to respond to how and why the petitioner was arrested in another FIR.

After the CCPO Lahore appeared, Justice Najafi asked in which cases the petitioner had been nominated. The CCPO replied she was wanted in two FIRs.

He told the court that some accused persons in their statements, recently arrested in connection with May 9 riot cases, revealed that Khadija had incited them to create a law and order situation, spread anarchy and chaos in case former prime minister Imran was arrested.

Justice Najafi adjourned the proceedings till October 24 seeking replies from the Punjab IGP and others.

Cook, others arrested

Speaking to The Express Tribune, a police official seeking anonymity said that on October 18 some accused, including Khadija’s cook, were arrested. They revealed that Khadija along with others had conducted several meetings at her home to chalk out a plan about attacking, creating law and order, anarchy and chaos if Imran was arrested.

The three arrested accused revealed in their statements that clubs, rods, stones and other items were arranged at her home.

LHC’s bail order

Last week, on October 18, LHC’s division bench headed by Justice Aalia Neelum had granted post arrest bails to Khadija in two cases, over allegedly setting ablaze Askari Tower and attacking Jinnah House in response to the arrest of the former premier.

The bails were granted after it was noted that during the course of investigation the Investigation Officer (IO) did not recover any material to connect the petitioner to the Jinnah House attack.

In the Askari Tower case, it was noted that the complainant had not specifically named witnesses who disclosed petitioner Khadija’s name and role during the protest.

The prosecution's witnesses in their statement did not state a single word about informing the complainant about the petitioner's involvement in the instant case.

Even the Askari Tower's security guards did not name Khadija in their statements.