After going missing nearly five months ago, journalist, anchorperson and YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan was "recovered" and reached home safely on Monday, according to District Police Officer (DPO) Sialkot Hassan Iqbal.
Following nationwide demonstrations on May 9, in response to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's detention at the Islamabad High Court, the journalist was taken into custody on May 11 at the Sialkot Airport under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
He was released from the district jail on May 12, but he was then whisked away in private vehicles. On May 15, the Lahore High Court (LHC) was told that the anchorperson had been released from custody after signing a written undertaking.
But his subsequent disappearance could not be explained nor could his whereabouts be traced.
The LHC gave the Punjab police chief "a last opportunity" to find Riaz by September 26, after he had been missing for a lengthy amount of time.
In a post on X, previously known as Twitter, the Sialkot police said, "Journalist/anchorperson Mr. Imran Riaz Khan has been safely recovered. Right now, he is with his family.”
Journalist/Anchor Mr.Imran Riaz Khan has been safely recovered. He is now with his family.
— Sialkot Police (@DpoSialkot) September 25, 2023
صحافی/اینکر عمران ریاض خان صاحب بازیاب ہو چکے ہیں۔ وہ اپنے گھر پہنچ چکے ہیں@OfficialDPRPP @rpogujranwala @PunjabPoliceCPO @GovtofPunjabPK @GovtofPakistan
Furthermore, in a post on X, Riaz's attorney stated: "By God's special blessing, grace, and mercy, I have brought back my prince."
He stated, "It took a long time due to the pile of difficulties, the last frontier of understanding, a weak judiciary, the current ineffective public constitution, and legal helplessness."
The lawyer wrote, "Despite the unspeakable circumstances, Allah Almighty showed us this best day. There is only limitless gratitude right now."