Court grants bail to suspect in TikToker Samiya Hijab case

ISLAMABAD: A local court in Islamabad on Monday granted bail to Hassan Zahid, accused of harassment, attempted abduction and issuing death threats to TikToker Samiya Hijab, after she withdrew her complaint against her former fiancé.

The suspect was arrested on September 1 after a case was registered at Shalimar Police Station on her complaint under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 365 (kidnapping or abduction with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person), 392 (punishment for robbery), 500 (punishment for defamation), 509 and 511 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

When Additional District and Sessions Judge Amir Zia took up the case, Samiya recorded her statement, saying the matter had been resolved and she had withdrawn her complaint.

“I have no objection if the court grants bail to the accused and acquits him,” she said.

When the judge asked if she was forgiving the suspect, she replied in the affirmative. The court granted bail to Zahid against a surety bond of Rs20,000.

Earlier, Samiya had conditionally forgiven her alleged harasser in an Instagram post, saying she pardoned Zahid for the sake of Allah.

She said that he had withdrawn all accusations against her and pledged never to harass or harm her again.

During Monday’s hearing, the investigating officer told the court that Samiya would attend the hearing through video link.

The judge remarked that if her brother or father were present, they could appear on her behalf, otherwise she must appear in person.

The hearing was briefly adjourned before Samiya appeared in court and recorded her statement. Journalists and court staff were asked to leave the courtroom during her testimony.

Earlier, Samiya admitted that Zahid was her former fiancé and said she ended the engagement after learning “disturbing truths” about him.

Videos of their past meetings and gift exchanges had circulated online, sparking controversy and drawing criticism against the TikToker.

This is not the first controversy involving Samiya. Earlier this year, she denied leaked videos circulated online, calling them fake and AI-generated.

She accused her ex-boyfriend of spreading the content to malign her and announced plans to approach the FIA Cybercrime Wing.