Imran Riaz Khan's detention: A case of jurisdiction

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 July 2022

The case against journalist Imran Riaz Khan has been deemed outside the jurisdiction of a local court in Attock and the Islamabad High Court. His arrest has led to a transfer of the case to the FIA court in Rawalpindi.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—After the Islamabad High Court, a local court in Attock also maintained that the case of journalist Imran Riaz Khan, arrested on Tuesday night near the capital, is outside its jurisdiction.

According to BBC Urdu, after brief proceedings, the civil magistrate, in his verdict, said that the case was outside his jurisdiction. Afterward, the case was sent to the FIA court.

Khan's lawyer was asked to appear before the FIA court in Rawalpindi Thursday. His lawyer Amir Hasnain said the court in Attock pointed out that the case against the vlogger was registered under the PECA Act; therefore, it was outside its jurisdiction.

Hasnain said that on Wednesday, a police party from Chakwal also reached Attock to arrest Khan, adding that it meant another case was registered against the journalist.

Earlier in the day, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that, according to reports, Khan was arrested in Punjab. He asked the journalist to go to Lahore High Court.

KEY POINTS:

• Imran Riaz Khan was arrested near Islamabad on Tuesday night.
• Attock local court ruled the case outside its jurisdiction due to PECA Act.
• The case has been forwarded to the FIA court in Rawalpindi.
• Khan's lawyer was instructed to appear in FIA court by Thursday.
• Chakwal police reportedly arrived in Attock for another potential arrest.