Anchorperson and YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan, who had been missing for nearly five months, was “recovered” on Monday and safely returned to his home, as confirmed by District Police Officer Sialkot, Hassan Iqbal.
Imran Riaz Khan’s ordeal began on May 11 when he was arrested at Sialkot Airport under 3MPO, following nationwide protests that erupted on May 9 after the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan at the Islamabad High Court.
Following his release from the district jail on May 12, it was reported to the Lahore High Court on May 15 that Imran Riaz Khan had been freed after providing a written undertaking.
After a prolonged period of his disappearance, the Lahore High Court granted the Punjab police chief a final opportunity on September 20 to locate and recover Imran Riaz Khan by September 26.
In a message posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Sialkot police announced, “Journalist and anchor Mr. Imran Riaz Khan has been safely located and reunited with his family.”
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
In a message posted on X, Riaz’s attorney expressed, “Through the special blessings, grace, and mercy of God, I have successfully reunited with my cherished client.”
He continued, stating, “The process was significantly delayed due to a multitude of challenges, the extreme complexity of the situation, a judiciary that faced limitations in resolving the matter, and the prevailing ineffectiveness of the public constitution and legal support.”
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
The lawyer added, “In the face of indescribable circumstances, Allah Almighty has ushered in this most auspicious day for us. Our hearts are filled with boundless gratitude at this moment.”
The timeline of Imran Riaz Khan’s case
The YouTuber was apprehended by the police following the violent protests on May 9, which erupted after the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
However, on May 15, the Lahore High Court (LHC) was informed about his release after he provided a written undertaking.
As his whereabouts remained unknown, Imran Riaz Khan’s father, Muhammad Riaz, lodged a First Information Report (FIR) with the Sialkot Civil Lines police on May 16, alleging the anchorperson had been abducted by unidentified individuals. The FIR invoked Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with the intent to secretly and unlawfully confine a person) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Simultaneously, his father filed a petition in the LHC for his son’s recovery.
During a hearing on May 19, his father, with tears in his eyes, appealed for mercy as the crackdown on the violent protesters intensified. The following day, the Chief Justice of the High Court ordered the police to locate and present the YouTuber before the court by May 22.
The LHC also instructed the Ministries of Interior and Defence to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities in effecting the anchorperson’s recovery after Punjab Inspector General Anwar stated that there was no trace of the journalist in any police department across the country.
Subsequently, the court was informed that both the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Military Intelligence (MI) had denied having the journalist in their custody.
On May 26, the court directed “all the agencies” to collaborate in finding Riaz and producing him in court by May 30.
On that date, IG Anwar informed the LHC that phone numbers linked to Afghanistan had been implicated in the case.
During a hearing on June 6, Riaz’s lawyer expressed growing impatience even as the Punjab administration assured the court that efforts to locate the journalist were ongoing.
On July 5, the LHC set a deadline of July 25 for the police to trace the journalist, but no hearing took place on the specified date due to the unavailability of the bench.
During that hearing, retired Brigadier Falak Naz, representing the Ministry of Defence, informed the court that they were diligently working on tracking locations and other aspects in their pursuit to recover Imran Riaz as expeditiously as possible.
On September 6, Punjab IG Usman Anwar informed the LHC that the police would have “good news” in the coming days, leading to an extension until September 13.
However, despite these assurances, the IG was unable to provide any significant “good news” by September 13, only stating that the investigation was progressing in the right direction.
Subsequently, on September 20, the LHC granted the Punjab IG a final opportunity to recover Riaz by September 26, postponing further proceedings in the petition demanding his return until that date.
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