Pakistani American fashion designer Khadijah Shah announced on Tuesday that she has accepted a reserved parliamentary seat offered by the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and has decided to renounce her US citizenship. This move is due to the fact that Pakistani law prohibits dual nationals from serving as members of parliament.

Shah, who was jailed for several months under harsh conditions following charges of rioting and vandalism in May 2023, was granted bail in December 2023.

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In a detailed Instagram post, Khadijah Shah explained her decision to accept Khan’s offer and temporarily nominate another woman for her position. She stated, “Relinquishing my US citizenship, which provides freedom, safety, and opportunity, was a tough decision. Yet, Pakistan is my homeland and the place where I have built my life. I cannot abandon it or its people.

“Despite enduring severe injustice over the past year and a half, this adversity has given me a renewed sense of purpose. I am motivated by the desire to make a meaningful impact on Pakistan.

“I am grateful that Imran Khan, whom I have long admired, deemed me fit to represent his party and contribute to his vision for Pakistan. I have accepted his offer and am committed to meeting his expectations and those of my fellow citizens.”