According to details, Imran Riaz Khan was taken into custody by the FIA Cybercrime Wing when he reached Lahore airport to take a flight to UAE. The FIA has shifted Imran to Gulberg from Lahore airport and he will be produced before the FIA court today.
Condemning the journalist’s arrest, PTI general secretary Asad Umar said that while journalists and politicians were in jail, “terrorists are walking free in the country”.
Imran Riaz Khan was taken into custody by the contingents of Rangers and police from Islamabad Toll Plaza last year as well. He was released afterwards however upon court orders.
Read also: Police Register Three Cases Against Anchor Imran Riaz
The Punjab police have registered three cases - one in Gojra and two in Jhang - against anchor and vlogger Imran Riaz Khan for a range of offences, including speaking against state institutions.
The first information reports (FIRs), containing identical texts, were registered under sections 505-1 (C), 505-2,501 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and sections 4, 5, 11, 16, 20 and 22 of the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act, 2016 by Jhang’s Kotwali police on the complaint of Suhail Iqbal of Iqbal Nagar locality of Jhang, Jhang’s Saddar police on the complaint of Khalid Mahmood Malik of Soofi Mor, and Gojra Saddar police on the complaint of Mahboob Ali Khan of Chak 363-JB.
The complainants maintained that the journalist’s act was a major crime and violation of the Constitution of Pakistan as it had hurt the sentiments of Pakistani people.
Meanwhile, another case was lodged against the him on the complaint of Advocate Riazul Haq by Chowk Sarwar Shaheed police in Muzaffargarh under sections 109, 501-C1, 503 and 505 of the PPC.
The case was registered under the provisions of the Anti-Electronic Crime Act and other provisions. The complaint said Imran Riaz has dented the image of the Pakistan Army.