PTI activist Khadijah Shah to give up US citizenship

In a significant development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist and fashion designer Khadijah Shah has announced to relinquish her United States citizenship after accepting the party’s nomination for reserved seats in the National Assembly.

Shah, who has been a vocal supporter of PTI and its founder Imran Khan, made the announcement on Instagram, stating that her decision was driven by her love for her Pakistan.

“Making the decision to relinquish my US citizenship, which guarantees freedom, safety, and opportunity, was not easy. However, Pakistan is my motherland, the place I call home, and the country where I’ve built my life. I cannot give up on it and my people,” said Shah in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

 

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A post shared by Khadijah Shah (@khadijahshah)

“I’m driven forward by the desire to make a difference for Pakistan,” her Instagram post read.

“Mehrunnisa — who has also held the prestigious Vice President position of the Oxford Union and advocates for the marginalised and downtrodden in Pakistan — is passionate about fighting for the rights of the marginalised, establishing genuine democracy, and driving progress in Pakistan. I’m proud to have nominated such an exceptional young Pakistani woman to represent PTI and myself in parliament,” Shah stated.

The PTI activist has been involved in legal cases related to her alleged involvement in the May 9 riots, which followed Imran Khan’s arrest. She was detained for several months before securing bail in January 2024.

Shah’s nomination for a reserved seat in the National Assembly comes after the Supreme Court’s ruling on July 12, which declared PTI eligible for the allocation of reserved seats for women and minorities.