LAHORE, Pakistan – A woman named Khadija Shah has recently made headlines as the alleged mastermind of the attack on Jinnah House, the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander, which was torched by PTI arsonists following the arrest of PTI chairman Imran Khan.
Khadija Shah, a name known for fashion and activism, was trending on Twitter after cops raided her Lahore home, but she escaped through the back door. However, police officers detained her father, husband, and some domestic help for questioning.
The recent police action and Khadija’s clarification come as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir both stated that all those responsible for the May 9 attacks would face justice.
In the midst of the harsh crackdown, Shah mentioned surrendering to officials over the allegations, which she refused. She decided to surrender after sharing her story in an audio clip. The socialite can be heard on the audio recording discussing her decision to surrender due to the serious charges levelled against her.
She described her ordeal, calling police raids and harsh treatment of her family and friends intolerable. Khadija, the granddaughter of former Army Chief Asif Janjua, claims that police detained her father, a diabetic, and brother, both of whom she claims are in custody.
In response to allegations, she refused to be labelled as the mastermind of vicious attacks, instead referring to herself as a Pakistani who believes in democracy and the Constitution. She mentioned asking PTI-charged members not to
I am going to make an arrest. I have not committed any crime. Khadija Shah#KhadijaShah is the daughter of former caretaker Finance Minister of Pakistan Salman Shah and Grand daughter of Army Staff General Asif Nawaz Janjua.#ConspiracyAgainstPTIExposed pic.twitter.com/gtYP9tK3f4
— Kaleem Hafeez (@KaleemHafeezPK) May 20, 2023
In response to allegations, she refused to be labelled as the mastermind of vicious attacks, instead referring to herself as a Pakistani who believes in democracy and the Constitution. She mentioned requesting PTI charged members not to damage state assets, but lamented the outrage as the building was ransacked and set on fire.
Who is Khadija Shah?
Many people, particularly those in the entertainment industry, are familiar with Khadija Shah, a fashion designer by trade. The alleged mastermind of the May 9 attacks is the granddaughter of late Army Chief of Staff Gen (retd) Asif Nawaz Janjua and the daughter of former Finance Advisor Dr Salman Shah.
Shah co-founded the top-tier fashion brand Elan, and she also owns other brands such as Zaha, which offers affordable fashion for women.
Shah is well-known for her designs, which she established by steadily expanding her label. The socialite and successful entrepreneur received several awards for her contributions to the fashion world.
Shah rose to prominence as she worked tirelessly throughout the year to revolutionise fashion in Pakistan through her aesthetic insight.
