Anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan, who was missing for nearly five months, has been safely recovered and reunited with his family.
This announcement came from District Police Officer Sialkot, Hassan Iqbal, in a statement made on Monday.
Imran Riaz Khan’s ordeal began on May 11 when he was arrested at Sialkot Airport under 3MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) following nationwide protests on May 9. These protests erupted after the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court.
After his arrest, Riaz was released from the district jail on May 12, with the Lahore High Court informed on May 15 that he had been set free after providing a written undertaking.
However, his whereabouts remained unknown for an extended period, prompting his father, Muhammad Riaz, to file an FIR with Sialkot Civil Lines police on May 16, alleging the abduction of his son by unidentified police officials.
The matter escalated when Imran Riaz Khan’s father filed a plea in the Lahore High Court for his son’s recovery.
In a heartfelt plea on May 19, his father implored for mercy as protests intensified. The Chief Justice of the High Court subsequently ordered the police to locate and present Imran Riaz Khan before the court by May 22.
The Lahore High Court further instructed the ministries of interior and defense to fulfill their constitutional duties in facilitating the journalist’s recovery, as Punjab Inspector General Anwar revealed that no police department across the country had any information about the missing journalist.
Efforts to locate Imran Riaz Khan were joined by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI), both of whom confirmed that the journalist was not in their custody.
As the search continued, the Lahore High Court issued a directive on May 26 for all relevant agencies to collaborate in finding Imran Riaz Khan and producing him in court by May 30. During this time, it was revealed that phone numbers associated with Afghanistan were linked to the case.
In a hearing on June 6, Imran Riaz Khan’s lawyer expressed growing impatience, even as the Punjab administration assured the court that efforts to locate the journalist were ongoing.
The Lahore High Court set a deadline of July 25 for the police to trace the journalist during a hearing on July 5. However, no hearing was held on the designated date due to bench unavailability.
Punjab Inspector General Usman Anwar informed the Lahore High Court on September 6 that “good news” was forthcoming in the next few days, but failing to provide significant developments, he assured the court on September 13 that the investigation was proceeding in the right direction.
Finally, on September 20, the Lahore High Court issued a “last opportunity” to Punjab Inspector General Usman Anwar to recover Imran Riaz Khan by September 26, adjourning the proceedings in the petition demanding his recovery until then.
