LHC reserves verdict on Khadija Shah’s detention

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has reserved its decision on the plea challenging the detention order of Khadija Shah, a former PTI activist.

The court heard detailed arguments from Shah's counsel and the law officer, with questions raised about the legality of implicating Shah in FIRs, her arrest, and the subsequent detention under a 30-day order issued under 3-MPO for maintaining law and order.

Advocate Sameer Khosa, representing the petitioner, Jehanzeb Amin (Khadija Shah's husband), posed several queries regarding the irregularities in Shah's implication in FIRs, her arrest, and the subsequent detention order.

The government's responses seemed inadequate to justify her detention during various instances of the hearing.

The petitioner's plea contends that Khadija Shah, having been granted bail in all cases, was still subjected to an illegal detention order for 30 days.

Despite earlier bail grants related to two FIRs, she was arrested in a third FIR on charges of abetting arson in Rahat Bakery. The court had previously granted her post-arrest bails in two FIRs related to the May 9 riots.

Read  LHC reserves decision on plea challenging Khadija Shah’s detention

Lahore deputy commissioner issued the detention order based on recommendations from the district intelligence committee, citing Shah's involvement in provocative and violent activities posing a potential threat to public peace and law and order.

The police recommended her detention under 3-MPO for 30 days to prevent actions prejudicial to public safety.

The court's dissatisfaction with the delay in reviewing the petitioner's application against the detention order and the government's procrastination raised concerns during the proceedings.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, presiding over the case, criticized the government's delaying tactics and questioned the reasons behind the delay in deciding the review application and the delay in the cabinet's meeting and decision on the matter.

The court has reserved its decision on the plea, and the legal debate surrounding Khadija Shah's detention continues.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2023.