Prominent journalist Anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan has returned home safely after being missing for nearly five months.
Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO) Hassan Iqbal and Riaz’s lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, has confirmed the journalist’s return. Punjab Inspector General (IG) Dr Usman Anwar has confirmed the development.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Sialkot police said, “Journalist/anchor Mr Imran Riaz Khan has been safely recovered. He is now with his family.”
Meanwhile, his lawyer Ashfaq, also in a post on X said, “By God’s special blessing, grace, and mercy, I have brought back my prince”.
“It took a lot of time due to the pile of difficulties, the last limit of understanding of the matter, a weak judiciary, and the current ineffective public constitution and legal helplessness,” he said.
The lawyer added, “Despite the unspeakable circumstances, Allah Almighty showed us this best day. Only limitless gratitude right now.”
Journalist/Anchor Mr.Imran Riaz Khan has been safely recovered. He is now with his family.
صحافی/اینکر عمران ریاض خان صاحب بازیاب ہو چکے ہیں۔ وہ اپنے گھر پہنچ چکے ہیں@OfficialDPRPP @rpogujranwala @PunjabPoliceCPO @GovtofPunjabPK @GovtofPakistan— Sialkot Police (@DpoSialkot) September 25, 2023
اللہ کے خاص فضل، کرم و رحمت سے اپنے شہزادے کو پھر لے آیا ھوں-
مشکلات کے انبار، معاملہ فہمی کی آخری حد، کمزور عدلیہ و موجودہ غیر مؤثر سر عام آئین و قانونی بے بسی کی وجہ سے بہت زیادہ وقت لگا- ????
ناقابل بیان حالات کے باوجود اللہ رب العزت نے یہ بہترین دن دکھایا اس وقت صرف بے پناہ… pic.twitter.com/z96M9pGaPZ
— Mian Ali Ashfaq (@MianAliAshfaq) September 25, 2023
Enforced Disappearance
Imran Riaz was arrested two days after violent protests broke out across the country following PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9.
He was last known to be taken to Cantt police station after his arrest and later to the Sialkot prison. On May 15, a law officer told the Lahore High Court (LHC) that the anchorperson was released from jail after taking an undertaking in writing.
On September 20, the LHC had given the Punjab police chief a “last opportunity” to recover Riaz by September 26. Subsequently, the adjourned hearing will take place tomorrow.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that well-known Pakistani journalist Imran Riaz Khan, who had been “missing” for almost five months now, has finally returned home.
In a statement, it said Imran Riaz is one of the many names who are suffering from “Enforced Disappearances” in Pakistan.
“These are innocent people who are either members & supporters of Pakistan’s largest & only federal party PTI, led by Chairman Imran Khan; or people who have raised voice against the unprecedented fascism, utter lawlessness, suspension of constitution & dismantling of democracy in the country,” it added.
It called for releasing all political prisoners & prisoners of conscience, who are in illegal incarceration, and said law must prevail.
Timeline
Imran Riaz was arrested two days after violent protests broke out across the country following PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9.
He was last taken to Cantt police station after his arrest and later to the Sialkot prison. On May 15, a law officer told the Lahore High Court (LHC) that the anchorperson was released from jail after taking an undertaking in writing.
The journalist’s father lodged a first information report (FIR) of Imran Riaz’s alleged abduction with Sialkot Civil Lines police on May 16. He also filed a plea in the LHC for his son’s recovery.
The LHC chief justice had ordered the police to recover and present the anchorperson by May 22. Police informed the court that there was no trace of the journalist at any police department across the country.
The LHC directed the ministries of interior and defence to discharge their duties for the the recovery of the anchorperson. The LHC was subsequently informed that both the Inter-Services Intelligence and the Military Intelligence said the anchorperson was not in their custody.
On May 26, the high court directed all agencies to work together to find the anchorperson and produce him in the court by May 30. When that date arrived, IG Anwar had told the LHC that phone numbers traced back to Afghanistan were involved in the case.
During the July 5 hearing, the LHC had established a deadline of July 25 for the police to locate the missing journalist. However, the hearing was not held due to the bench’s unavailability.
Later, a representative of the Ministry of Defence informed the court that they were working on tracing locations and trying to recover Imran Riaz “as soon as possible.”
On September 6, IG Anwar had told LHC that the police would deliver “good news” in the next few days, following which he was granted time till September 13. He later assured the court that the probe was “going in the right direction”.
After remaining missing for a considerable period of time, the Punjab police chief was given “a last opportunity” by the LHC on September 20 to recover Riaz by September 26.
