The Lahore High Court (LHC) has decided to postpone proceedings for a weekin the petition seeking the recovery of missing anchorperson Imran Riaz.
This decision came after the Punjab police chief assured the court thatthe investigation was making “positive progress.” Imran Riaz, a YouTuberand television anchor, was arrested shortly after violent protests eruptednationwide following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on May 9.
His whereabouts became unknown after being taken to Cantt police stationand later to Sialkot prison. On May 15, it was reported that Imran Riaz wasreleased from jail after providing a written undertaking. Imran Riaz wasone of several journalists taken into custody following the May 9 protests.
An FIR (First Information Report) regarding his alleged abduction was filedon May 16 by his father, Muhammad Riaz, against “unidentified persons” andpolice officials, citing Section 365 of the Pakistan Penal Code related tokidnapping or abduction. The journalist’s father had also filed a plea inthe Lahore High Court for his son’s recovery.
During the previous hearing on September 6, the Punjab Inspector General(IG) Dr. Usman Anwar had expressed confidence in the case’s “positiveprogress” and suggested that there might be “good news” in the next 10 to15 days. Consequently, the hearing was adjourned to the present day.
Read Top Stories
Today, Justice Bhatti inquired about the case’s progress from the PunjabIG in court, where Imran Riaz’s father and his lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq,were present. The Punjab IG reassured the court that they were “going inthe right direction” with the investigation, and the petitioner’s lawyerconfirmed the same. As a result, the hearing was adjourned until September20.
Imran Riaz’s father, speaking to the press outside the court, expressedhis desire to see his son again, despite the authorities’ assurances ofprogress. He appreciated the ongoing efforts and expressed his gratitudewhile emphasizing his hope for his son’s safe return.
