LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday ordered the Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) to recover and produce anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan by Monday (May 22) ‘at any cost’.
LHC Chief Justice Ameer Bhatti resumed hearing on the case seeking the recovery of anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan and asked Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar to produce him by May 22.
The court directed the IG Police to produce the anchorperson on May 22 as the court expressed its commitment to take the case to its logical end and ensure ‘justice’ to the aggrieved family.
The court adjourned the hearing until May 22.
During the proceedings, Punjab Inspector General (IG) of Police Dr Usman Anwar presented a report on the progress of the anchorperson’s recovery in the court.
“It is being said that a police vehicle was used in Imran Riaz’s abduction, but this is false,” the IG claimed, adding, “No police vehicle has any connection with Imran Riaz’s kidnapping.”
At that, the LHC CJ asked, “How can you say there is no connection?”
The IG replied that CCTV footage showed that the police vehicle spotted at the site of Imran’s arrest was not there when he was taken away.
He further told the court that the interior ministry had been approached for help in the case, adding that geofencing was being carried out to identify people who took away Imran.
“It is being said that Imran Riaz was taken forcibly, but it doesn’t seem so,” the IG said.
Following that, the LHC CJ directed that the CCTV recording be played in the court.
Imran’s lawyer, Azhar Siddique, presented his arguments after that, saying that his client was first surrounded from all sides and then taken away in a vehicle.
During his arguments, Justice Bhatti enquired from the IG about security arrangements outside the jail — from where Imran was shown being taken away in CCTV footage played at the last hearing.
The IG told the court that usually there were no security arrangements outside the jail. “We make security arrangements outside the jail if the need is felt.”
On this, Siddique said, “The jail IG says their duties are limited to within the prison.”
He further said a raid was initially conducted at Imran’s residence in Lahore for his arrest, adding that “police’s ill intentions are now out in the open”.
The LHC CJ then addressed police, saying, “You first conducted a raid at Imran Riaz’s house and then arrested him in Sialkot.
“Submit a written reply to the court, explaining why you conducted a raid at Imran’s house.”
He directed police to recover and present Imran before the court by Monday in any case.
“Previously, you used to ask for [more] time. I am now giving you time,” he said, adjourning the hearing till Monday.
FIR of Senior Journalist’s Abduction
The first information report (FIR) of Senior journalist and anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan has been registered on his father’s complaint.
As per details, the DPO Sialkot said that the abduction FIR of Senior journalist Imran Riaz Khan was registered at the Civil Line police station. He said that abduction sections are included against “unknown persons” and a committee comprised of IT specialists and police officers has been constituted for the release of Imran Riaz Khan.
It is pertinent to mention here that the police have launched a crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers following the ‘violent protests’ held after the arrest of party chairman Imran Khan by Islamabad High Court in the Al-Qadir Trust Case.
The protests were held in remote and major cities as the party workers are agitated due to their chairman’s arrest, with Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order.
