The Lahore High Court (LHC) has adjourned proceedings for a week in the petition demanding the recovery of missing anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan after the Punjab police chief assured the court that the investigation was “going in the right direction.” Here’s a summary of the key points in this case:
Imran Riaz, a YouTuber and television anchor, was arrested two days after violent protests erupted across the country following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on May 9.
After his arrest, Imran Riaz was last known to be taken to Cantt police station and later to Sialkot prison. On May 15, it was stated in court that he was released from jail after providing a written undertaking. However, his whereabouts remain unknown.
لاپتا صحافی عمران ریاض کے والد محمد ریاض خان نے وائس آف امریکہ سے بات کرتے ہوئے بتایا ہے کہ پولیس نے بیٹے کی بازیابی کے لیے امید دلائی ہے۔ #ImranRiazKhan #VOAUrdu pic.twitter.com/e1SgmfwuRD
— VOA Urdu (@voaurdu) September 13, 2023
Imran Riaz was one of several journalists taken into custody following the May 9 protests.
A First Information Report (FIR) alleging Riaz’s abduction was registered with Sialkot Civil Lines police on May 16, filed by the anchorperson’s father, Muhammad Riaz. The FIR named “unidentified persons” and police officials for allegedly kidnapping Riaz under Section 365 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Imran Riaz’s father filed a plea in the Lahore High Court for his son’s recovery.
During a previous hearing on September 6, the Punjab Inspector General (IG), Dr. Usman Anwar, informed the court that there was “positive progress” in the case and promised “good news” within the next 10 to 15 days.
In the most recent hearing, Justice Bhatti inquired about the case’s progress from the Punjab IG, who stated that the investigation was going in the right direction. The petitioner’s lawyer also confirmed that the investigation was progressing correctly.
The hearing was adjourned until September 20.
Imran Riaz’s father expressed his hope that his son would be found and said that they are grateful for the updates and efforts of the authorities.
The case revolves around the disappearance of Imran Riaz, a journalist, and the ongoing efforts to locate him. The court has adjourned the proceedings for a week, awaiting further developments in the investigation.