CJ orders resolving ‘all issues’ in anchor-person’s release

LHC grants authorities fresh deadline for producing Imran Riaz

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court's (LHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti on Wednesday directed the quarters concerned to come up with a resolution for all administrative issues related to the release of missing anchor-person Imran Riaz Khan by July 25.

Chief Justice Bhatti was hearing a plea filed by the father of the missing anchorperson, Imran Riaz Khan, seeking the recovery of his son.

As the proceedings commenced on Wednesday, DIG Shehzada Sultan and DPO Sialkot appeared before the court.

The anchor-person’s counsel, Barrister Ali Mian Ashfaq, informed the court that they had attended several meetings of the "working committee" and identified some administrative issues in the release of journalist Imran Riaz Khan.

They were optimistic about securing the release of Imran Riaz Khan before the Eid holidays, but unfortunately, it could not be accomplished.

However, the Chief Justice set the next date for the proceedings with a directive to resolve all the issues.

Earlier in the proceedings, despite several weeks passing, the law enforcement agencies and Punjab IGP Dr Usman Anwar failed to produce the missing anchor-person, Imran Riaz Khan, before the court.

The IGP Anwar had informed the court that extensive efforts were being made in collaboration with law enforcement agencies in this case. He stated that they had contacted NADRA for the purpose of identifying those responsible for the disappearance of the anchor-person.

The IGP informed the court that they had received information indicating that some foreign numbers used in this case belonged to Afghanistan. He further explained that they lacked the capacity to trace the numbers in Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2023.