Samiya Hijab withdraws charges against Hassan Zahid after out-of-court settlement

The kidnapping and harassment case of TikToker Samia Hijab in Islamabad has taken a decisive turn after she announced in court that she pardoned the accused, Hassan Zahid, following an apology from his family, and agreed to an out-of-court settlement.

She clarified that Zahid has also withdrawn his allegations against her, and both sides have agreed to put an end to the conflict and move forward positively.

The settlement covers disputes linked to financial transactions and videos, and Samia confirmed that an affidavit will soon be submitted to the court, leading to the dismissal of the case.

Samia reportedly told her lawyers that she forgave Hassan “for the sake of Allah” after his family approached her and apologised for his actions.

She added that Hassan expressed regret over his behavior. Zahid, in return, assured the court that he would not disturb or threaten Samia, make defamatory posts on social media, or cause her any personal or financial harm.

Samia further clarified that no financial deal was made between the families, emphasising that her pardon was intended to free herself from trauma. She stressed that her engagement with Hassan has ended, and she now feels safe and ready to focus on her career.

Read more: Hassan Zahid sent to jail in Samiya Hijab abduction case

On August 31, Samia released a video on social media accusing Hassan of harassment and pressuring her into a forced marriage. The video went viral, prompting Islamabad police to register a case at Shalimar Police Station under charges of kidnapping and intimidation.

Although Zahid initially secured pre-arrest bail, he was later sent to jail on judicial remand.

Investigations also revealed that the two had a close relationship involving financial transactions and plans for marriage, which later soured, escalating into serious allegations. According to police officials, three accomplices of the accused were arrested. A vehicle, and a pistol remain untraced, though Rs 45,000 has been recovered from Zahid.

With Samia’s pardon and the out-of-court settlement, the case is expected to conclude soon, and Zahid is likely to be released on Saturday.