By Special Correspondent
LAHORE: Punjab Inspector General Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar told the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday that there was no trace of anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan at any police department across the country.
Whereabouts of the anchorperson remain unknown since his arrest at Sialkot airport on May 11. The senior official told the LHC as it heard a plea seeking Riaz’ recovery. At the previous hearing, the court had again directed Punjab police to recover and present the anchorperson. However, police failed to present him before the court during today’s hearing.
Imran was among the individuals arrested in the wake of the protests that erupted following the arrest of Imran Khan. Later, his lawyer filed a writ petition on May 12 over the anchorperson’s arrest and the court directed the concerned authorities to present him before the court the same day. But its orders were not followed and Sialkot police were given a 48-hour deadline to recover the missing anchorperson.
A first information report (FIR) pertaining to the matter was also registered with Civil Lines police on May 16 on the complaint of father of the anchorperson, Muhammad Riaz. The FIR was registered against “unidentified persons” and police officials for allegedly kidnapping Imran Riaz, invoking Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
At the outset of Monday’s hearing, LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti inquired about the developments in the case. “IG sahib, what is the progress at your end?” he asked. In response, the IG stated, “Imran Riaz Khan was not wanted by us. However, the agencies had asked for a police van. Why they had asked for the police van, [the court] can summon the agencies and ask them.”
The chief justice warned the Punjab IGP of consequences if he failed to share information about the anchorperson. In response, the IG stated that a meeting had taken place on Sunday which was attended by representatives from all relevant “agencies”. “We have asked police across Pakistan. No one has Imran Riaz,” he added. He urged the court to seek a response from the secretaries of the interior and defence ministries, calling on the court to direct the two to assist police.
“Would you like more time?” the judge asked the IGP, to which the latter responded in the affirmative. The IGP Punjab said that his department had also reached out to the interior ministry but yet had to get a response. The judge remarked that the court had been making efforts for the recovery of the anchorperson and was also taking steps in order to protect him.
“The court should summon representatives from the Ministry of Interior so that the matter could be taken forward,” the IGP said. He further stated that Imran Riaz was not detained at any “police centre”. The judge issued a stern warning to the IGP, saying “I am giving you one more chance”. He further said that if any harm befell Imran, he would hold all responsible parties accountable.
Imran’s lawyer Azhar Siddique, meanwhile, said that one of the individuals involved in the raid on the journalist’s residence was also among those who arrested him at the Sialkot airport. At the conclusion of the hearing, the LHC Chief Justice said that an order would be issued regarding today’s proceedings.
