Behind bars, Yasmin Rashid creates stunning embroidery

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has revealed a creative side of her personality by creating intricate hand embroidery on pillows and sofa cushions during her time in prison.

The 76-year-old veteran politician and renowned gynaecologist marked her birthday on September 21. On the occasion, images of her handmade embroidery appeared on social media, drawing attention to her artistic talent and surprising many people.

During her imprisonment, Dr Yasmin Rashid used colourful threads and a needle to create detailed embroidery designs on pillows and sofa cushions. Her work features a wide variety of patterns and scenes, including elephants, horses, owls and cats.

The embroidered pieces also depict birds feeding on nectar, butterflies hovering around flowers, mountains, floral patterns, vines and colourful bouquets. Through her work, Rashid appears to have brought a sense of nature, colour and beauty into the confined environment of prison.

Dr Yasmin Rashid has given individual titles to her creations and named the collection “Beyond The Bars”. She has described the artwork as something created not in a studio but behind prison bars.

According to the message accompanying her work, every stitch represents patience, while every colour symbolises a ray of hope. She explained that when time seems to stand still and a person’s hands, mind and soul feel completely empty, creative work can become a source of strength and comfort.

She further wrote that when circumstances are beyond one’s control, creativity can provide peace and emotional relief. Her words emphasise the importance of maintaining unwavering faith during difficult circumstances.

The embroidery has offered a glimpse into how Rashid used creativity to cope with her time in confinement. Her work has also attracted attention on social media, where the detailed designs have been widely appreciated.

The development comes amid ongoing legal proceedings involving the PTI leader. A court recently granted her bail in a case related to vandalism and arson.