Punjab IG given last chance to produce Imran Riaz

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday gave the Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar one last opportunity to produce journalist Imran Riaz Khan in the court by Sept 26.
Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti heard a plea filed by Imran’s father, seeking recovery of his son, who according to him had disappeared several months ago.

As the proceedings commenced, the chief justice asked IG Anwar about the progress in the matter.
The IG replied that a joint working group meeting would be held on Friday, therefore, he required some time.

He stated that the working group had been formed in the light of the LHC order, and a meeting with intelligence chief was due on that day.

Read Court vows to 'spare no one' if harm comes to Imran Riaz

“It seems my patience is being tested. Should this case be tested in another way,” the chief justice remarked. Ali Mian Ashfaq, the counsel for the petitioner, pleaded the court to grant 24 hours’ time to the Punjab IG for the journalist’s recovery.

The chief justice gave the IG one last opportunity to produce the journalist in court, adjourning the hearing till Sept 26.

During the previous hearing, IG Anwar told the court that on the direction of the court, he had met with the petitioner and updated him and his counsel about the developments in this case.

IG Anwar claimed that the matter of journalist Imran was headed in a good direction. At that time, the petitioner’s counsel had also apprised the court that a major development might take place any time in this matter.