The Lahore High Court (LHC) has once again extended the deadline for the Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) to locate missing anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan.
The court, led by Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti, granted this latest extension during a hearing of a plea filed by Khan’s father, who is desperately seeking his son’s recovery. Imran Riaz Khan has been missing since his arrest on May 11, 2023, at Sialkot Airport, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
During the hearing, the Punjab IGP reported some positive developments in the efforts to find the missing anchorperson. He expressed optimism that there would be “good news” within the next 10 to 15 days and requested additional time to produce Khan.
The court expressed its concern about repeated extension requests and emphasized the need for tangible progress. Consequently, the LHC granted a six-day extension while instructing the IGP to meet with Imran Riaz Khan’s father and legal team at 5 pm on the same day.
It’s worth noting that the court had previously set deadlines for the authorities to produce Imran Riaz Khan, with the most recent deadline being July 25. However, no hearing took place on that date, reportedly due to the bench’s availability. These extensions followed earlier deadlines of May 22 and May 30. The court has directed all law enforcement and intelligence agencies to collaborate in their efforts to locate the missing anchorperson.
Imran Riaz Khan is known for his strong support of the ousted prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson, Imran Khan, and his policies. His arrest on May 11 was allegedly related to the May 9 riots.