LHC to hear Khadijah Shah plea on MondayPakistan

Khadijah Shah had filed the plea on December 18, 2023, making the federal government, the FIA and others respondents. She argued that the agency had received no complaint and had initiated the inquiry on its own.

She further argued that the inquiry had been launched with mala fide intent and without any legal justification, and asked the court to set it aside.

The FIA had launched the inquiry into money laundering charges against Khadijah Shah around three years ago. The case has since remained pending before the courts, with the petitioner challenging the very basis on which the inquiry was opened.

Khadijah Shah is a well-known fashion designer who became a prominent supporter of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). She was arrested in 2023 in connection with the May 9 protests and was later released, but the FIA inquiry into her financial affairs has continued separately.

Legal experts say the Lahore High Court will first examine whether the FIA had the legal authority to open the inquiry without a complaint, and whether the procedure followed by the agency was in line with the law.

The hearing on Monday is expected to focus on the maintainability of the plea and the FIA’s response to the arguments raised by the petitioner. Further proceedings will depend on the court’s directions after the initial hearing.

The case is one of several legal matters involving PTI leaders and supporters that are pending before the courts, with the party arguing that many of the cases are politically motivated, a claim the authorities reject.

The Lahore High Court issues a daily cause list setting out the cases to be heard, and Monday’s list includes the petition filed by Khadijah Shah. The court will hear arguments from both sides before deciding how the case should proceed.

Cases challenging the opening of an inquiry often turn on whether the investigating agency followed the correct legal procedure. The court may ask the FIA to produce the record of how the inquiry was initiated and on what basis it was opened.