Lahore: Journalist and YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan was “safely recovered” and reached home on Monday after being missing for four months according to Sialkot Police and his lawyer.
Early on Monday morning, Punjab Inspector General (IG) Dr. Usman Anwar confirmed that Riaz is now “safe at home.” This development was also later confirmed by Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO) Hassan Iqbal on social media platform X (formerly known as twitter), where he wrote “Journalist/Anchor Mr. Imran Riaz Khan has been safely recovered. He is now with his family”.
Journalist/Anchor Mr.Imran Riaz Khan has been safely recovered. He is now with his family.
— Sialkot Police (@DpoSialkot) September 25, 2023
صحافی/اینکر عمران ریاض خان صاحب بازیاب ہو چکے ہیں۔ وہ اپنے گھر پہنچ چکے ہیں@OfficialDPRPP @rpogujranwala @PunjabPoliceCPO @GovtofPunjabPK @GovtofPakistan
Imran’s lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq, has also confirmed his safe return at home
The journalist was arrested on May 11 from the Sialkot Airport under the section of 3MPO just two days after the nationwide protests broke out on May 9 following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest from Islamabad High Court (IHC).
He was first taken into custody by the Cantt police but later transferred to Sialkot prison. Riaz’s father had filed a plea at the Lahore High Court (LHC) for his son’s safe recovery.
The LHC was informed on May 15 that the anchorperson was released from jail on May 12 after taking an undertaking in writing.
However, he has returned home today (September 25) according to a social media post by his lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq.
Ashfaq said in his post on X “By God’s special blessing, grace, and mercy, I have brought back my prince.
اللہ کے خاص فضل، کرم و رحمت سے اپنے شہزادے کو پھر لے آیا ھوں-
— Mian Ali Ashfaq (@MianAliAshfaq) September 25, 2023
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
“It took a lot of time due to the mountain of difficulties, the last limit of understanding of the matter, a weak judiciary, and the current ineffective public constitution and legal helplessness,” he said.
Journalist Wajahat Saeed Khan also took on X, to inform that he had spoken to Imran’s family, adding that the anchorperson was “weak and not in the best of health but he’s back”.
Just spoke to @ImranRiazKhan’s family. He’s weak and not in the best of health, but he’s back, MashAllah.
— Wajahat S. Khan (@WajSKhan) September 25, 2023
It is pertinent to mention that on September 20, the LHC gave the Punjab police chief a “last opportunity” to recover Imran Riaz by September 26 (tomorrow).
