The Lahore High Court has given Punjab’s inspector general a last chance to locate journalist Imran Riaz Khan, who has been missing since May.
The Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Muhammad Ameer Bhatti, presided over the Imran Riaz Khan case on Wednesday. During the proceedings, Chief Justice Bhatti heard a plea from Imran’s father, who is seeking the recovery of his son, stating that he has been missing for several months.
At the start of the hearing, Chief Justice Bhatti inquired about the progress in the case and the whereabouts of the detainee from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman. In response, the IGP requested an extension from the court to make progress in the case.
The chief justice, however, expressed his dissatisfaction with the IGP’s request, stating that he had been patiently waiting for progress for five months but his patience was wearing thin.
The chief justice then asked the petitioner’s lawyer, Mian Wali Ashfaq, if he agreed to grant more time to the police, to which the lawyer agreed. The court subsequently adjourned proceedings until September 26.
Imran Riaz Khan, a prominent supporter of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his policies, was arrested by the police on May 11 at Sialkot Airport.
Following the arrest of the former prime minister on May 9, which triggered widespread protests, the government initiated a crackdown on PTI supporters.
Khan was arrested on charges of allegedly inciting violence during clashes between security forces and PTI supporters.
On May 12, the Lahore High Court ordered the IG prisons to present the journalist in court on the same day. However, the IG informed the court that the jail authorities had already released Khan, but Imran has not been located since then.
