Khadija Shah detained for 30 more days under MPO

Authorities claim designer 'potential danger to public peace and law and order'

LAHORE:

Fashion designer Khadija Shah, who was booked in multiple cases for her alleged involvement in riots that ensued Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan's arrest on May 9, was detained again on Friday for 30 more days under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Order.

The order noted that she was being detained to “maintain law and order situation” in Lahore, adding that the superintendent of police, Cantt Division, as well as the district intelligence branch made their recommendations.

It added that Shah had become a "potential danger to public peace and law and order" and that “there exists a genuine concern that she may once again incite the public to partake in destructive and vandalising activities”.

“In order to prevent the above named activist from acting in a manner prejudicial to public safety and maintenance of public order and tranquillity, it is requested that her Detention Order under section 3 of Maintenance of Public Order for a period of 30 days be issued," the police recommended.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) had granted Khadija Shah post-arrest bail in two cases of setting ablaze the Askari Tower and attacking the Jinnah House on May 9. As soon as her bail was granted in the two cases, the police arrested her in a third case of "abetting arson" at the Rahat Bakery in Lahore.

She then filed a plea in the LHC seeking contempt proceedings against the police highups who, according to her, deceived the court by submitting report that stated that only two first information reports (FIRs) were registered against her.

The plea is pending before LHC’s Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, who expressed dissatisfaction over the CCPO’s report submitted to the court. On the court’s direction Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar appeared in the court, but failed to satisfy the judge over the arrested of Shah.

The court questioned why the police preferred to wait for the court’s final order on her bail pleas; why was she not interrogated during custody and who would guarantee that she would not be arrested if she was granted bail in the third FIR.


Read Top cop faces scrutiny in Khadija Shah case