Journalist Imran Riaz Khan was arrested on Tuesday near Islamabad Toll Plaza at the outskirts of the federal capital.
Talking to media, the consul for Imran Riaz, Mian Ali Ashfaq said Imran Riaz Khan was heading to Islamabad for appearing in the Islamabad High Court when he was arrested in connection with a treason case registered against him in Attock.
Ashfaq said his client was named in 17 treason cases across Punjab, adding that he was filing a contempt of court petition against the police. Before his arrest, Imran Riaz through a video message said that he was being targeted but he had recorded a video carrying the names of all the conspirators behind his arrest.
He said that the video message would be posted on his social media accounts soon wherein he had mentioned all details about the conspiracy hatched against him.
Social media reports suggested that Imran Riaz’s consul had moved Islamabad High Court (IHC) and journalists had started gathering outside the IHC amid reports of likely opening of the courtroom late Tuesday night.
Top journalists, politicians and activists condemned the arrest of Imran Riaz. Those posted messages in support of Imran Riaz Khan were PTI Secretary General Asad Umar who condemned the arrest. He said expression of opinions should be met with counterarguments instead of arrests.
PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry strongly condemned the arrest and hope that the courts would take action.
PTI Central Secretary Information Farrukh Habib shared a video regarding the journalist’s apprehension by law enforcement agencies.
PTI leader Ali Haider Zaidi also condemned the incident and said the nation stood with Khan.
In a recent video on his Youtube channel, the journalist had directly addressed Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and alleged that he was threatened after asking questions from military sources about the country’s current political and economic situation.
Several cases have been lodged against senior journalists and anchors, including Khan, Sabir Shakir, Arshad Sharif, Sami Ibrahim and Moeed Pirzada, for allegedly spreading hate against army and state institutions.
The registration of cases against the above, who are seen to favour the PTI, was condemned by PTI Chairman Imran Khan earlier today in a video address.
In May, the Lahore High Court had accepted Khan’s plea for protective bail after multiple sedition cases were registered against him.
