Imran Riaz Khan, a respected journalist, has been safely reunited with his family on Monday morning after a mysterious four-month disappearance.
The news of his safe return was shared by the Sialkot police on the social media platform X (previously known as Twitter). Their post read, “Journalist/anchor Mr. Imran Riaz Khan has been safely recovered. He is now with his family.”
In another update on X, Khan’s attorney, Ashfaq, expressed his relief and gratitude, stating, “By God’s special blessing, grace, and mercy, I have brought back my prince.” He lamented the extensive delay in Khan’s return, attributing it to the challenges of navigating a “weak judiciary”, present constitutional dilemmas, and overarching legal barriers.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also acknowledged Khan’s reappearance, remarking that Khan was merely one among many victims of enforced disappearances. The party advocated for the immediate liberation of all “political prisoners and prisoners of conscience” currently subjected to “unlawful” imprisonment.
At the latest hearing in the Lahore High Court (LHC), Dr. Usman Anwar, Punjab’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), was directed to present the journalist in court by September 26th. Responding, the IG cited an impending joint working group meeting, thereby requesting an extension. This working group, established as per LHC’s directive, had scheduled a key meeting with the intelligence head.
In a prior hearing, IGP Anwar had assured the court of positive progress in the case, after updating the petitioner and his legal team about the case’s developments based on the court’s instructions.
It should be noted that Khan, an unwavering advocate for deposed Prime Minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his governance strategies, was taken into custody on May 11th, presumably by law enforcement, following the riots of May 9th.
