LHC grants bail to journalist Imran Riaz, orders release

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has granted bail to senior journalist Imran Riaz Khan and ordered his release, Express News reported on Saturday.

Discharged by magistrate pic.twitter.com/nQdrj4rElr

— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) July 9, 2022

Riaz, the most vocal critic of the ruling coalition, was arrested from Islamabad Toll Plaza late on Tuesday disregarding the fact that a court had already granted him a pre-arrest bail.

LHC Justice Ali Baqir Najafi heard the petition seeking quashment of cases against Riaz and directed him to appear before the magistrate on the next working day.

The judge also remarked that the petitioner’s counsel had assured the court that he would refrain from making any statement that would make the matters worse.

Imran Riaz after getting released - our lawyers team victory selfie with imran riaz pic.twitter.com/0LifxDxAbk

— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) July 9, 2022

Riaz assured the judge that he would not make any controversial statement. Advocate General Punjab Shehzad Shaukat requested the court to grant him bail in a case registered by Chakwal police.

After hearing the arguments, the court adjourned the hearing of the case till July 19 and granted bail to the journalist.

Riaz, Express News anchor, has been implicated in a slew of cases which he says were motivated by his refusal to “stop speaking the truth”.

everyone needs a friend like arif hameed bhatti sahb in our lives, but only lucky people get such friends pic.twitter.com/mVs1MZkQ1l

— Muqadas Farooq Awan (@muqadasawann) July 9, 2022