LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has halted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from pursuing disciplinary measures against Khadija Shah, a PTI activist and designer, following a hearing presided over by Justice Ali Baqir Najafi.
The court’s intervention came during Shah’s plea against the FIA’s money laundering inquiry targeting her. Khadija’s lawyer, Sameer Khosa, highlighted that the FIA’s inquiry lacked a formal complaint and was initiated as a suo motu action, not an FIR.
Khosa emphasized that the inquiry appeared unusual as it lacked specific complainants stepping forward and cited five irregularities in the process.
He underlined Khadija Shah’s prior bail in four cases and subsequent arrest under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), urging the court to temporarily halt the inquiry.
Furthermore, Khosa urged the prevention of any re-detention of Khadija Shah by concerned parties. The court adjourned the case’s hearing until December 22.
Earlier, on December 11, Khadijah Shah faced arrest by Quetta police on charges of murder and attempted murder, though the Punjab government withdrew her detention order.
Subsequently, she was apprehended by Quetta police, and an anti-terrorism court granted a two-day transit remand to the police.
PTI’s jailed woman leader Sanam Javed to contest election against Maryam Nawaz
Meanwhile, Sanam Javed, a jailed woman leader from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is set to contest against Maryam Nawaz, Senior Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), for a provincial assembly seat. Father of PTI activist Sanam Javed disclosed this development today.
Sanam is among numerous PTI members currently in custody due to their involvement in the May 9 riots, triggered by the arrest of Imran Khan, the party’s former chairman, in a corruption case.
She faces charges linked to multiple incidents, including the attack on Lahore’s Corps Commander House and the torching of police vehicles during the protests earlier this year.
According to the PTI activist’s father, Sanam intends to submit nomination papers for Lahore’s PP-150 constituency in the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8. He affirmed that she will run on PTI’s ticket and also submit papers for the women’s reserved seat.
“We’re in the process of gathering the necessary documents for Sanam Javed’s nomination,” her father mentioned.
Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz of PML-N has yet to declare the constituency from which she’ll contest in the elections. PML-N’s parliamentary board is conducting meetings to screen candidates for party tickets.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set to begin receiving nomination papers from potential candidates starting tomorrow (December 20), following the oath-taking of district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) today, in accordance with the Elections Act 2017.
