Imran Riaz Khan arrested at Lahore Airport en route to Hajj

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 12 June 2024

LAHORE– Pakistani journalist Imran Riaz Khan was arrested at Lahore Airport on Tuesday night as he was preparing to depart for Hajj. The arrest, carried out by men in plain clothes, defied a direct order from the Islamabad High Court, which had mandated the removal of Khan's name from the no-fly list.

Imran, a vocal critic of the government and a prominent journalist, had his travel plans abruptly halted for the second time after he was also stopped from flying out for Hajj by immigration authorities earlier this month.

The Islamabad High Court had previously ordered that Khan's name be taken off the no-fly list, allowing him to perform the religious pilgrimage. However, the arrest, made while he was in an 'ahram' highlights ongoing tensions and challenges that journalists face in Pakistan.

This is not the first time Imran has faced such obstacles. In 2022, his initial plans to undertake Hajj were thwarted when he was arrested. A similar incident occurred in 2023 when he was abducted under mysterious circumstances. In a video posted on social media just before heading to the airport, Khan expressed his concerns, stating that he believed the Rangers and police might attempt to detain him again. Despite his apprehensions, he decided to proceed, asserting that he had no pending cases against him and was not attempting to flee.

The arrest of Imran Riaz Khan has sparked outrage among journalists and human rights organizations, both domestically and internationally. Press freedom advocates have condemned the incident, emphasizing the need for the Pakistani government to respect judicial orders and protect journalists' rights.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Pakistan remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists.

The Islamabad High Court's decision to remove Imran's name from the no-fly list was part of broader efforts to address unlawful detentions and travel restrictions imposed on journalists. Legal experts argue that the disregard for such orders undermines the rule of law and judicial independence in Pakistan.

Imran's arrest has led to widespread condemnation on social media, with hashtags supporting Imran trending and calls for international intervention to ensure his safety and the protection of journalistic freedoms in Pakistan.