Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) welcomes the return of anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan over four months after he was initially arrested, released, and then went missing. We urge a complete investigation into his disappearance and whereabouts over the past four months.
On September 25, the Sialkot Police confirmed the release of the media person, stating that he had been “safely recovered” and was with his family. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Riaz Khan’s legal representative, Mian Ashfaq Ali, confirmed the return of Riaz Khan.
On May 11, Riaz Khan was arrested at Sialkot Airport in the Punjab province. According to The News, the anchorperson was arrested for “allegedly inciting violence” when clashes ensued between security forces and supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan. The report stated that the anchorperson was offloaded from a plane by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) when he was about to fly to Muscat from Sialkot. He was reportedly handed over to the police and shifted to an “unknown place.”
In court proceedings on May 12, the Lahore High Court Chief (LHC) Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti was told that Riaz Khan had been released, The Express Tribune reported.
As per Dawn, a law officer had told the high court that Riaz Khan was released from jail after taking a written undertaking, but there remained no news of where he was. The report added that a First Information Report (FIR) was registered by Riaz Khan’s father about his kidnapping on May 16.
Months later, according to Dawn, on September 20, the LHC had given the Punjab Inspector General (IG) Dr Usman Anwar the “last opportunity” to recover Riaz Khan by September 26. The anchorperson was released a day earlier, on September 25.
As per Dawn, Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO) Hassan Iqbal shared that the police got a call that Riaz Khan was at the Civil Hospital. He was later taken from the hospital to his residence.
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The post On August 18, 2023, Daily Khabrain reporter Faisal Shahzad and three DG Khan University professors were arrested from Mall Road in DG Khan, Punjab. The case is related to the Harassment of D.G Khan University student Sana Irshad. Sana was MA Final year student in the Physics department. Rashid called in his office and sexually harassed her. Sana Irshad raised her voice and complained to two other senior professors of the university, Dr Zafar Iqbal and Dr. Khalid Khatak. While confessing, Faisal Shahzad, a Daily Khabrein reporter, was also in the room. Sana was told that the video was being recorded for the university’s records and was subsequently assured that the video would not be shared on social media platforms. During the confession, Irshad said that her younger sister, who was in the second semester, was also being harassed by Dr. Rashid and was being blamed that she has an affair with Dr. Rashid. Faisal Shahzad released the video on Facebook through his anonymous account without the consent of Sana. Irshad’s father registered a First Information Report (FIR) with FIR no 497/23 under sections 501,384,406,506 as per the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on August 15, 2023. In which he stated the entire incident of harassment with his daughter and the release of the video without her consent. Faisal Shahzad and the other three professors have been arrested under judicial remand, and the case is currently under court trials in the District Court of DG Khan, Punjab. The court Challan has not been issued yet. On August 24, 2023, ASI Mohammad Khadim, the investigation officer, told PPF that the case is still under court trials, and for now, he can’t update with details of the court proceedings. He further told that Shazad was arrested from Mall Road on August 18, 2023. Head Mohrar of Civil Line Police station, Ghulam Akbar Meerani, said that the professors Dr . Zafar Iqbal, Dr. Khalid Khatak, and Khabrein News journalist Faisal Shazad are under judicial remand, and the case is under court proceedings. On August 23, 2023, According to the statements of Press Club President of Dera Ghazi Khan, Sajjad Ahmed told PPF that Faisal Shahzad was involved in the harassment of female student Sana Irshad from the University of D.G Khan. Currently, he is under police custody. On August 25, 2023, Senior Reporter of Daily Khabrein, Aneela Ashraf, told PPF that Faisal Shahzad was the reporter of Daily Khabrein in D.G Khan, Punjab. She allegedly added that the video released by Faisal Shahzad was without the consent of the victim and the Victim’s Family. first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).
