LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Friday extended for one day the judicial remand of seven PTI women leaders and workers, including former MNA Alia Hamza and fashion designer Khadija Shah, in the Jinnah House attack case.

The Sarwar Road police presented the women before the court.

The investigating officer told the court that the identification parade of the suspects had been conducted, however, a report in this regard was yet to be prepared. He said all the women suspects had been found involved in the attack on the Jinnah House.

Other suspects include Sanam Javed and Tayyaba Raja.

Judge Abher Gul Khan allowed an opportunity to the IO to submit the report of the identification parade and extended the judicial remand of the suspects till June 3.

Khadija Shah says Yasmin Rashid not in good health

Responding to media queries, the PTI women workers denied the reports (and a claim of party leader Imran Khan) of their mistreatment or torture in the jail. However, they said, keeping women in jail was more than mistreatment. They said the government could file cases under the cyber laws if it had any problem with their social media posts.

Later, the police presented Khadija Shah before a two-judge bench of the Lahore High Court in a petition filed by her father and husband.

Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, who headed the bench, directed the law officer of the caretaker government of Punjab to submit a detailed report about the identification parade of the woman.

Asked if she wanted to say something, Ms Shah told the bench that she was innocent and participated in the protest as a social media activist. She complained about her character assassination on social media.

Ms Shah, a granddaughter of former army chief Asif Nawaz Janjua, said she did not feel secure in the police custody.

The judge reminded her that she was not in the police but in judicial custody.

Justice Rizvi directed the jail authorities to allow the family and the legal team of Ms Shah to visit her without any hurdle. The judge adjourned further hearing till June 5.

Outside the court, Ms Shah told the media persons that the health of PTI-Punjab President Dr Yasmin Rashid was not good in the jail. She said Dr Rashid was an elderly woman and her condition was deteriorating. Dr Rashid is also on judicial remand in the May 9 arson attacks.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2023