Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. Usman Anwar, presented an update to the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday regarding the investigation into the disappearance of anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan. The IGP reported that the investigation was making positive progress in the journalist’s recovery case.
The hearing presided over by Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti, centered on the plea filed by Khan’s father, who seeks his son’s recovery. Imran Riaz Khan has remained undisclosed since his arrest on May 11 at Sialkot Airport.
At the start of the hearing, CJ Bhatti inquired about the status of the missing anchorperson’s case from the Punjab IGP. Dr. Anwar informed the court that, following the LHC’s directives, he had met with the petitioner and had kept him and his counsel updated on the case’s developments.
IGP Dr. Anwar expressed confidence in the investigation’s progress, while the petitioner’s counsel Ali Mian Ashfaq mentioned the potential for further developments at any moment.
Consequently, the high court judge adjourned the proceedings until September 20. It’s worth noting that in the previous hearing, CJ Bhatti had granted an extension to the Punjab IGP until September 13 to locate anchorperson Imran Riaz, based on promising progress reports. The IGP had pledged to deliver “positive news” within 10 to 15 days and requested additional time to locate Khan.
Previously, the court had set deadlines for the authorities to produce the missing anchorperson, starting with May 22 and May 30, and extended to July 25, although no hearing took place on that date due to bench availability.
The court had instructed law enforcement and intelligence agencies to collaborate in efforts to recover Khan. The anchorperson, a prominent supporter of ousted PM Imran Khan and PTI Chairman, was arrested on May 11 following the May 9 riots.
