Pak journalist Imran Riaz Khan reunites with family after going missing for 5 months

Imran Riaz Khan, a prominent Pakistani journalist, anchor, and YouTuber, who had been missing for nearly five months, was finally "recovered" and reunited with his family on Monday (September 25), media reports said citing Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO) Hassan Iqbal. The journalist's ordeal began on May 11 when he was taken into custody at Sialkot Airport under the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO) after nationwide protests on May 9 in response to the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan at the Islamabad High Court. Imran Riaz Khan was subsequently released from the district jail on May 12.

In a significant development, the Lahore High Court gave the Punjab police chief a deadline of September 26 to locate Imran Riaz Khan after he had been missing for an extended period.

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The news of Imran Riaz Khan's safe recovery was shared by Sialkot police on X social media platform, where they stated, "Journalist/anchorperson Mr. Imran Riaz Khan has been safely recovered. Right now, he is with his family.”

Lawyer's statement

Imran Riaz Khan's attorney also expressed his relief, saying, "By God's special blessing, grace, and mercy, I have brought back my prince," adding, "It took a long time due to the pile of difficulties, the last frontier of understanding, a weak judiciary, the current ineffective public constitution, and legal helplessness."

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The lawyer wrote, "Despite the unspeakable circumstances, Allah Almighty showed us this best day. There is only limitless gratitude right now."

Imran Riaz Khan's condition

Dawnquoted journalist Wajahat S Khan, who had spoken to Imran Riaz Khan's family, as saying that the anchor is currently weak and not in the best of health, but he has returned safely.

PTI also reacted to the journalist's return and called for the release of political prisoners.PTI leader Hammad Azhar expressed the nation's joy over Imran Riaz Khan's return. Meanwhile, PTI called for the release of all political prisoners under "illegal incarceration" and spoke of the need for law and justice to prevail.

Also Read |Pakistan: PTI party urges Chief Justice to schedule early hearings of Imran Khan's cases

Imran Riaz Khan's disappearance prompted his father, Muhammad Riaz, to file a first information report (FIR) for his alleged abduction with the Sialkot Civil Lines police on May 16.

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The FIR named "unidentified persons" and police officials for the alleged kidnapping under Section 365 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertains to kidnapping or abducting with intent to confine a person secretly and wrongfully.

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