LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) two-judge bench on Monday disposed of as withdrawn a petition of fashion designer Khadija Shah, challenging her fresh physical remand granted by the trial court to the police in cases of May 9 riots.

A counsel for the petitioner argued before the court that the trial court allowed police fresh remand of his client, following the addition of new charges in the first information reports (FIRs). He asked the court to set aside the trial court’s decision for being unlawful.

The bench, headed by Justice Alia Neelum, observed that the petitioner was required to join the police investigation under the new offences added to the FIRs.

The bench noted that one of the offences newly added to the FIRs carried the death penalty.

The bench disposed of the petition as the petitioner’s counsel said he wanted to withdraw the plea.

Police had added various new charges to all the FIRs relating to the May 9 protests.

The charges include waging or attempting to wage a war or abetting in waging of war against Pakistan, abetting mutiny or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty and rioting.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2023