Ministry of Interior granted the US Embassy in Islamabad consular access to PTI leader Khadija Shah, who is in custody in connection with May 9 vandalism.
The MOFA spokesperson on Thursday said American embassy in capital submitted an application with the ministry requesting access to Khadija Shah.
The ministry received the request through Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Interior Ministry has directed Punjab Home Department to extend full cooperation to the US Consulate in Lahore in this regard.
It may be mentioned here that the US State Department has called on Pakistan on Tuesday last to grant consular access to fashion designer and PTI leader Khadija Shah who has dual citizenship.
The State Department said its diplomats have not had access to Khadija Shah, the founder of the luxury fashion brand Elan, who was produced before an anti-terrorism court following protests over the May 9 arrest of ousted prime minister Imran Khan.
“We have asked Pakistani officials for consular access to her,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters in Washington, confirming Ms Shah’s dual nationality.
“Believe Ms Shah is dual national and so we continue to engage directly with the government of Pakistan,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the US always urges all foreign governments to allow and follow counsellor notifications for procedures when American citizens are detained.
He indicated that more US citizens have been arrested.
“Whenever a US citizen is arrested overseas, we stand ready to provide all appropriate assistance and we expect Pakistani authorities to respect all fair-trial guarantees owed to these detainees,” Patel said.
