Dr. Yasmeen Rashid, Khadija Shah remanded in police custody

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has granted further physical remand to former Punjab health minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid and designer Khadija Shah in separate cases related to the May 9 riots.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that new charges of sedition and inciting mutiny have been added to the existing charges of rioting and hate speech in connection with the rioting and vandalism at Sherpao Bridge.

The investigation officer (IO) requested an extension of custody for Dr. Rashid, who previously served in ousted prime minister Imran Khan’s cabinet.

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The ATC has instructed the police to present Dr. Rashid in court on September 14 for the case registered at Sarwar Police Station. Dr. Rashid has been arrested multiple times in connection with protests against Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9.

Meanwhile, Khadija Shah was also produced before the ATC in a case related to arson at Askari Tower, and the police requested further physical remand based on additional provisions included in the case. The ATC approved the request, granting the police extended custody of Shah.

In another case linked to the May 9 riots and vandalism, the ATC has ordered the judicial remand of six other accused individuals. The accused, namely Arbaz, Abdul Hafeez, Faheem Qaiser, Tahir Khan, Muhammad Gul, and Ghulam Abbas, who were implicated in a case registered at Shadman Police Station, were presented before the court.

The court rejected the police’s request for physical remand and placed the accused on judicial remand.

Thousands of individuals from across the country, with a majority hailing from Punjab, have been in detention for months in various cases related to the nationwide protests that on May 9.