LAHORE: Senior journalist/TV anchor Imran Riaz Khan “has been safely recovered”.
“He is now with his family,” said a Sialkot police tweet posted at 5:13 am today (Monday).
Imran Riaz Khan remained missing for over four months. The journalist was detained just two days after the May 9 riots that broke out across the country following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on May 9.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) was informed on May 15 that the anchorperson was released from Sialkot jail after taking an undertaking in writing. The Punjab police chief was given a last opportunity by the LHC on September 20 to recover Riaz by September 26 after he remained missing for a considerable period of time.
Riaz’s lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq also in his post on X wrote: “By God’s special blessing, grace and mercy, I have brought back my prince.” He further said: “It took a lot of time due to the pile of difficulties, adopting a judicious approach, a weaker judiciary, ineffective constitution and legal helplessness.” The lawyer further wrote: “Despite the unspeakable circumstances, Allah Almighty showed us this best day”.
Riaz was last known to be taken to Cantt police station in Sialkot after his arrest and later to the Sialkot prison. On May 15, a law officer told the LHC that the anchorperson was released from jail after taking an undertaking in writing.
On September 20, the LHC had given IG Punjab police a “last opportunity” to recover Imran Riaz by September 26 as his whereabouts remained unknown. Subsequently, a first information report (FIR) of Imran’s alleged abduction was registered with Sialkot Civil Lines police on May 16 on the complaint of Riaz’s father, Muhammad Riaz. The case was registered against “unidentified persons” and police officials for allegedly kidnapping Imran, invoking Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) of the Pakistan Penal Code. The journalist’s father had also filed a plea in the LHC for his recovery. The adjourned hearing at the LHC will take place tomorrow (Tuesday).
