Noted journalist Imran Riaz Khan has gone missing for more than 100 days with no trace of his whereabouts.
The missing journalist’s lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, opened up on the efforts to recover and ensure his safe return in a podcast with Mansoor Ali Khan.
Mian Ashfaq Ali said he has not held any contact or meeting with Imran Riaz Khan ever since his disappearance. He said there was earlier hope that Imran Riaz would be released by Eid-ul-Azha.
When asked if he held any contact with the missing journalist, Mian Ashaq categorically denied the claim.
He said that neither he nor Imran Riaz’s father, mother, or wife has had a phone call or meeting with the journalist ever since he went missing.
Mian Ashfaq said that FIA sent a call-up notice to Imran Riaz to appear on June 22 and asked him to appear on June 26, knowing well that he had gone missing.
Mian Ashfaq also responded to accusations that he was not doing enough to fight the case and secure the release of Imran Riaz.
These allegations were raised by London-based YouTuber and staunch military critic Adil Raja who said that Mian Ashaq was not sincere in his efforts.
“Adil Raja has never fought a case. He has not achieved anything. It is very easy to point fingers sitting 5000 miles away,” he said.
ویسے اگر میں غلط نہیں تو انہی صاحب نے عمران ریاض کو لونڈا لپاڑا یوٹیوبر نہیں کہا تھا؟ pic.twitter.com/sAF4Zu50AR
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) August 28, 2023
???????? Pakistan: The practice of enforced disappearance has a devastating impact on the families of the disappeared. The families must be informed of the fate and whereabouts of their missing loved ones.
Imran Riaz Khan was disappeared on 11 May 2023#EndEnforcedDisappearances pic.twitter.com/fT1DznD049
— Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office (@amnestysasia) August 25, 2023
It is really sad Imran Riaz is still missing ..CPJ calls for his release to mark 100 days of Imran riaz khan disappearance https://t.co/BnBxpeaj2Q
— Sami Abraham (@samiabrahim) August 19, 2023
The case
The Lahore High Court heard the case and gave the police until July 25 to find anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan, whose whereabouts remain unknown since his arrest on May 11. However, the court has not held any further hearing.
The order was passed by LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti while hearing a plea seeking to find the anchorperson, who was among the individuals apprehended in the wake of protests that erupted in the country after the arrest of PTI chairman Imran Khan.
A first information report (FIR) pertaining to the matter was registered with Civil Lines police on May 16 on the complaint of the anchorperson’s father, Muhammad Riaz.
The FIR 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 LHC was told there had been some positive development in the case and it was expected that the anchorperson would be safely recovered within the next few days.
In his complaint filed at a Sialkot police station, Riaz’s father alleged that police abducted his son, and requested his early and safe release.
Imran Riaz Khan was a vocal supporter of then-Prime Minister Imran Khan. After Imran was removed from power in April 2022, the journalist started harshly criticizing institutions the former prime minister alleged were behind his ouster.
The journalist’s arrest came as a part of a nationwide crackdown on Imean Khan’s supporters after they vandalized military properties in different parts to protest the arrest of the former prime minister on May 9. Riaz had posted a video on his YouTube channel just before his arrest that he was facing threats.
