LONDON/ISLAMABAD: A court in Islamabad has approved the bail of TikTok star and influencer Sandal Khattak in the Hareem Shah video leak case.
“After hearing all the arguments, the court approved Sandal’s post-arrest bail,” her lawyer told Geo News.
The TikTok star — whose real name is Sandal Shamim — appeared before the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Court Judge Azam Khan.
Sandal’s counsel Barrister Musaddaq Barki said that his client had not received any notice from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) after a case was registered against her by her former friend Hareem Shah — whose real name is Fizza Hussain.
The FIR was all one-sided and there was no investigation in the FIR, said Sandal’s lawyer.
He said: “No evidence was found from Sandal’s mobile and no such evidence was found during the investigation. According to the TikTok rules, no immoral videos can be uploaded in TikTok.
Whoever made this video included Hareem Shah’s own consent and she was laughing herself in the video. Sandal Khattak has no role in it nor has she made the video and nor made it viral.”
The judge noted that the FIA notice was not sent to Sandal.
“She is no more required for investigation by the FIA. Keeping the accused behind bars will serve no purpose. The forensic report is still awaited,” noted the judge adding that the alleged culprit was entitled to post-arrest bail.
The FIA, on June 12, arrested Sandal in a case pertaining to fellow TikToker Hareem Shah’s video leak. Special Judge Central Islamabad heard the case filed by Shah, during which she and the suspect, Sandal, appeared in the court along with her lawyers.
“Hareem is blackmailing me through indecent photos,” the TikToker had told the court.
Meanwhile, Shah showed the said videos and pictures in the courtroom.
When presenting arguments before the court, the prosecutor said videos on TikTok are not posted for Kashmir’s freedom; everyone knows about the videos that TikTokers make.
After hearing the arguments, Special Judge Central Azam Khan had rejected Sandal’s bail application resulting in her arrest.
