Claim: A screenshot of a Siasat.pk social media post states that fashion designer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter Khadijah Shah holds Imran Khan and his party responsible for her arrest. In the statement, Shah urged people not to attack the state by falling prey to a cult of personality, asking them not to attack the state on the basis of hearsay. She expressed her disappointment by adding that people discard you like a “tissue paper” after using you and that her family did not expect this from Imran Khan’s political faction.
Fact: The post is doctored and Shah did not give any such statement.
Fact or Fiction?
On 30 December 2023, X (formerly Twitter) user Kami (@K4mi_i) shared (archive) a statement by Khadija Shah stating that he strongly agrees with her despite political differences.
The text on the graphic he posted reads as follows:
“شخصیت پسندی کا شکار مت ہوں کسی کی باتوں میں اگر اپنی ریاست پر حملہ آوور نا ہوں یہاں سب آپ کو ٹشو پیپر کی طرح استعمال کر کے پھینک دیتے ہیں، عمران خان کی جماعت سے ہمارے خاندان کو یہ توقع بلکل نہیں تھی
[Do not fall prey to a cult of personality and do not attack your state on the basis of hearsay. People discard you like tissue paper after using you. Our family did not expect this from Imran Khan’s party].”
The post implies that Shah holds Imran Khan and his political party responsible for her arrest.
Soch Fact Check found the claim to be false. Digital media platform, Siasat.pk, clarified that the post circulating on social media is “fake and not created by us”.
They urged people to use Siasat.pk’s official link to retweet or verify the information from their official account before sharing it, adding that all their posts “have the original source attached for verification.”
Shah’s lawyer also confirmed to Soch Fact Check that she did not give any such statement.
According to a report by Dawn, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Quetta released Shah on bail on 28 December 2023 in a case relating to 9 May unrest. The nationwide protests were sparked by the arrest of PTI’s former chairman, Imran Khan.
Shah was accused in four cases related to the events of 9 May, all heard in Lahore, where she was held at Kot Lakhpat Jail. Despite being granted bail in all cases, she remained in custody. On 15 November, an anti-terrorism court granted her bail in the last case, but on 17 November, she was re-arrested under the Maintenance of Public Order ordinance for 30 days.
Shah challenged the detention in the Lahore High Court, leading to the withdrawal of detention orders. However, Quetta police sought her transit remand in the ATC. The court granted a two-day remand and ordered the police to present her on 13 December. Shah appeared before the judge after her three-day police remand expired on 16 December, but was remanded once again into police custody for an additional seven days.
Following the 9 May unrest, Shah was on the run for two weeks. Later, she turned herself into the Punjab Police on 23 May 2023 over allegations that she led an attack on the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander during the protests. Shah denies the allegations against her.
Since Shah is a prominent public figure in Pakistan, her arrest has garnered significant popularity in the media. Besides being the daughter of former finance minister Salman Shah and the granddaughter of former Pakistan Army Chief Gen (r) Asif Nawaz Janjua, Khadijah Shah is a renowned fashion designer and the creative director of the brands Elan and Zaha.
Shah has also been a vocal supporter of PTI on social media and other public platforms.
She is one of a number of PTI supporters who are facing legal action since May 2023, along with many PTI leaders. There have been dozens of arrests and rearrests of prominent leaders of the party on charges of inciting terrorism, arson, and public disorder.
Virality:
The tweet by @K4mi_i gained significant traction with 143,800 views, 1,300 likes and 483 reposts.
Conclusion: A false statement has been attributed to Khadijah Shah who in fact has not blamed Imran Khan or his political party for her arrest.