Aftab Iqbal
FOE Link or motive by PPF
ConfirmedCase Update Status
The next hearing of court will be on May 22, 2023.
Summary of Case
"TV anchor and YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan were arrested at Sialkot airport on May 11, 2023. Similarly, TV anchor Aftab Iqbal was arrested from his Lahore farmhouse at 2 PM. According to the media reports Aftab Iqbal left Samaa in April and was currently doing a show on GWAI. As per media reports, Imran Riaz Khan and Aftab Iqbal both are in detention of police officials, on the writ application of the families of both journalists Lahore High Court summoned the hearing today. Chief Justice Lahore High Court, Ameer Bhatti ordered present both journalists in the High Court at 1 PM. Ayesha Noor Iqbal, daughter of Aftab Iqbal told PPF that 18 to 19 people came down to their residence in Lahore, and around 3 PM they arrested his father. “They manhandled my father, and my house staff, and without showing any notice or arrest warrant they allegedly arrested my father, right now I am at Lahore High Court and we are filing a writ petition with the counsel team of Mian Ali Ashfaq,” Noor said. Ayesha said, a few days ago Aftab indirectly informed his family members that can be arrested at any time due to his pro-PTI shows and remarks. “We have no idea where is my father right now, he is not in any police station he did not contact us it’s been almost 24 hours now since he was abducted,” Ayesha said. “I have a firm believe on all the journalistic bodies will do justice and will help us in releasing my father” Noor added. Speaking to PPF, Junaid Iqbal brother of Aftab Iqbal told that he was arrested from his farmhouse in Lahore around 3 PM on May 11, 2023, he was sleeping when 4 special elite force Punjab police wagons came in and in a state of sleeping, they arrested him without showing any arrest warrant and they took his mobile, iPad, and laptop with them as well. “We had no idea where they took him, and we are in a state of helplessness, for legal assistance we requested advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq and he will file the writ petition in Lahore High Court,” Junaid added. Anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan was arrested by FIA and later handed over to police officials at Sialkot Airport for allegedly inciting violence during clashes between security forces and supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan without showing any Fir or arrest warrant. Imran Riaz Khan was flying to Muscat from Sialkot when FIA arrested him. According to media reports, the police claimed that Imran Riaz Khan had been detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) for 30 days and would be held at Sialkot jail on the orders of the DC Sialkot. Lahore High Court had also strongly condemned the arrests of Imran Riaz Khan and Aftab Iqbal in their statement. President Muhammad Azam Chaudhry, Senior vice president Shadab Riaz, Vice president Zaheer Ahmed Babar, Secretary Abdul Majeed Sajid, joint secretary Hassan Taimoor Jakhar, Finance secretary Hafiz Faiz Ahmed and other governing body members strongly condemned the arrests of both journalists. In a statement released on Thursday, the council expressed its firm disapproval of any efforts to restrict freedom of expression, emphasizing that such actions cannot be tolerated. The arrest of anchorpersons Aftab Iqbal and Imran Riaz Khan has been strongly condemned by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE). CPNE President Kazim Khan called for the immediate release of the journalists, asserting that in a civilized society, differences of opinion should not be suppressed. He further highlighted that the CPNE's media freedom report has consistently highlighted instances where journalists are punished for expressing their views. Following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 9 at the Islamabad High Court, authorities initiated a crackdown on supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Rana Azeem, general secretary of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists strictly condemned the arrests and with no doubt, the journalists are under fascism. "
Category of Incident
Kidnapping
ICCS Status
ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression
ICCS Group: 08039-Other acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression
ICCS Class: N/A
ICCS Crime: Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression
Reported By
The News
Date of incident
12
Month
May
Year
2023
Name of affected person
Aftab Iqbal
Other affected persons
Imran Riaz Khan
Name of affected organization
No media organisation was affected
Other affected organizations
No other organization was affected
Action by
By Lahore Police.
City
Lahore
Province
Punajb
Designation
Anchor
Professional category
Journalist
Age of victim
61
Marital Status
MarriedCompensation Details
Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation announced
Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation announced
Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation announced
Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced
Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced
Date compensation paid by others: No compensation announced
FIR Details
Was FIR registered ?: No
Court Details
Was case investigated ?: Yes
Court where case was presented: Lahore High court
Name of prosecuting lawyer: Rana Maroof
Date of first court hearing: 10/05/2023
Date of last court hearing: 12/05/2023
Status of court case: Journalist was released by the high court and the next hearing of court will be on 22-May-23
Journalist Union Status
PFUJ
Not required to contact
APNS
CPNE
PBA
Media Source Status
Media reports:
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1069494-imran-riaz-aftab-iqbal-arrestedCondemn Status
Colleague of victim
Not required to contact
Employer organization
Not required to contact
Press Club Status
Press club 1: "Lahore Press Club had also strongly condemned the arrests of Imran Riaz Khan and Aftab Iqbal in their statement. President Muhammad Azam Chaudhry, Senior vice president Shadab Riaz, Vice president Zaheer Ahmed Babar, Secretary Abdul Majeed Sajid, joint secretary Hassan Taimoor Jakhar, Finance secretary Hafiz Faiz Ahmed and other governing body members strongly condemned the arrests of both journalists. In a statement released on Thursday, the council expressed its firm disapproval of any efforts to restrict freedom of expression, emphasizing that such actions cannot be tolerated."
Press club 2:
Press club 3: