Case Update Status

The court ordered the DPO Sialkot to produce the journalist within 48 hours. The next hearing of the court will be on May 18, 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

Imran Riaz Khan

Other affected persons

Aftab Iqbal

Name of affected organization

No media organisation was affected

Other affected organizations

No other organization was affected

Action by

By Lahore Police.

City

Sialkot

Province

Punjab

Designation

Anchor

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

47

Marital Status

Compensation 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: 15/05/2023

Status of court case: Journalist was not produced in the High court yet.

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Not required to contact

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn 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: