Imran Riaz Khan reappears after 5 months
A missing Pakistani journalist who was held by cops five months ago has safely returned home, as confirmed on Monday by both the lawyer and the police.
Imran Riaz Khan, a journalist, was arrested by security forces on May 11 as he attempted to flee the country after they expressed fear about a possible arrest. In his home city of Sialkot, which is situated in the region of central Punjab, this event occurred. He was then accused of encouraging violence through his coverage as a journalist by the judicial system.
Just before his imprisonment, Riaz issued a statement, expressing that he was leaving Pakistan due to a shrinking “space to speak” and being “forced into silence.”
After an extended ordeal, journalist Imran Riaz Khan is reunited with their family owing to his attorney Mian Ashfaq Ali. A photo is shared by Ali on social media. The process of returning missing journalist Imran Riaz Khan continues to drag out because of obstacles and a troubled court system. His attorney emphasizes the importance of keeping silent about his health so that he has time to recover. In the course of his ordeal, Riaz lost 22 kilo grammes. The current government in Pakistan hasn’t yet commented on Riaz’s release or the reason of his absence.
Prominent Pakistani Journalist Imran Riaz Khan Returns Home Amid Disappearance Concerns:
Riaz, a BOL TV host with more than 3 million YouTube subscribers and 5 million+ X followers, was arrested. His family promptly filed a complaint in the Lahore High Court, charging the police for the kidnap. Riaz apparently failed police custody at first but was later released, raising questions about possible military involvement. Regarding these charges, the military has stayed silent. After repeated meetings, the judge recently gave the police a “final warning” and ordered them to bring the missing journalist into court by Tuesday.
Since Riaz’s absorption, the military has kept silent regarding the allegations. According to the judge’s final decision from last week, the journalist must be located to be taken to court by Tuesday. Khadija Siddiqi hailed @ImranRiazKhan’s appearance on X as a victory over restrictive criticism.
Claims of pressuring journalists who challenge the military’s political role have been leveled against Pakistani security agencies.
After Imran Khan was ousted from office in April 2022, Riaz—once a strong ally of the military and former prime minister Imran Khan—began to criticize the military.
Arrest of Journalist Raises Questions About Pakistan’s Free Speech; PTI Demands the Freeing of Political Prisoners:
After making scathing remarks against the military on X, television personality Khalid Jamil was detained last week in Islamabad. Fake social media claims are made against media host Jamil, endangering Pakistan’s press freedom.
Imran Riaz Khan was set free and PTI praises him as a survivor of Pakistan’s illegal abductions. The party demands the release of all lawmakers in “illegal custody,” citing arrests of critical members since May. After Khan was convicted guilty of fraud, a federal court last month postponed his three-year jail term. Khan questions the government’s rationale for his detention and claims that the military interfered to stop him from voting. Khan swears on his innocence as authorities question his claims.
