anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted post-arrest bail to fashion designer Khadija Shah in the latest case related to the May 9 riots. This marks the fourth and, as of now, the final case against her. The Sarwar Road police re-arrested Ms. Shah in connection with torching police vehicles in the Cantonment area, despite her earlier bail in two cases related to attacks on Jinnah House and Askari Tower.

Ms. Shah also faced arrest by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in a cyber crime case for allegedly posting social media messages to incite people against the army during the May 9 violence. However, a sessions court granted her bail in the FIA case.

During the ATC’s final arguments, Ms. Shah’s counsel, Sameer Khosa, argued that the police re-arrested her with a mala fide intention, lacking evidence and relying solely on statements from other arrested suspects. Emphasizing her role as a mother of minor children and her six-month imprisonment, the counsel requested her release on bail.

The prosecutor presented the case record, indicating that the suspect had been identified by prosecution witnesses during her identification parade in jail, urging the court to dismiss the bail petition. Judge Arshad Javed, after considering both arguments, granted bail to Ms. Shah, subject to the furnishing of Rs100,000 surety bonds.

Separately, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi of the Lahore High Court expressed displeasure at the investigating officer (IO) of Sarwar Road police for not presenting the case record in a contempt petition by Khadija Shah. Ms. Shah had sought contempt proceedings against the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) and the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) for arresting her in a new case after bail was granted in two cases related to the May 9 riots.

A government law officer informed the court that the IO was engaged before the ATC. Ms. Shah’s counsel highlighted the IO’s failure to present the case record at four ATC hearings, claiming it was with the LHC.