Imran Riaz Khan Granted Bail in Zaman Park Case
An Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore granted bail to journalist Imran Riaz Khan on March 9, in relation to the Zaman Park attack case. This case has brought him under scrutiny for alleged acts of arson and stone-pelting at police officers during their attempt to execute arrest warrants against the former Prime Minister and the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, on May 9, 2023.
This marks the second time Khan has been granted bail in recent weeks. On February 23rd, he was arrested on corruption charges related to the Tharabi Lake contract but was later released on bail. He was re-arrested on March 6 in connection with the Zaman Park incident.
His defense, led by lawyer Ali Mian Ashfaq, challenged the prosecution’s case by highlighting the lack of evidence and pointing out significant inconsistencies. Ashfaq emphasized the absence of video footage or any solid proof to substantiate the charges against Khan, further noting the police’s delayed awareness of the case, which reportedly went unnoticed for eight months.
In a ruling, the court, Judge Arshad Javaid Chadhar, ordered Khan to post a surety bond of Rs 0.1 million for his bail.
Previously, on March 1, an Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore, led by Judge Naveed Iqbal, ordered a five-day physical custody remand for Riaz Khan. The police had sought a 15-day remand, citing witness statements and the need for further investigation. However, the court settled on a shorter remand period, scheduling Khan’s next appearance.
Source: Pakistan Press Foundation