Imran Riaz's arrest sparks legal battle

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 12 June 2024

Journalist Imran Riaz Khan was arrested on fraud charges at the Lahore airport and remanded in police custody. His arrest is causing legal contention regarding the charges and processes followed.

Summary

LAHORE – A Lahore district court on Wednesday remanded journalist Imran Riaz Khan in police custody for one day following his arrest on fraud charges, reports Dawn.

Riaz was detained at Allama Iqbal International Airport late Tuesday night while preparing to depart for Hajj. Visuals of his arrest, clad in ihram, quickly spread on social media. He was subsequently presented before Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Kamran Zafar by the Nishtar Town police.

According to the FIR, which Dawn accessed, Riaz faces charges under Section 406 of the Pakistan Penal Code, relating to criminal breach of trust. During the hearing, police requested a seven-day physical remand, alleging that Riaz borrowed Rs0.25 billion from the complainant without repayment. Riaz's lawyer, Mian Ashfaq, claimed the case was fabricated, linking the complainant to Maryam Nawaz's polling station.

The judge reserved the verdict but later granted a one-day physical remand of Riaz.

Earlier, Riaz's lawyer Azhar Siddique filed a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking details of the FIR. The petition argued that Riaz was arrested without disclosure of charges and taken to an undisclosed location. It called for the court to summon authorities to provide details of the FIRs against Riaz.

Separately, Riaz's brother petitioned the LHC for his immediate release, alleging unlawful detention. The petition is set for hearing before Justice Amjad Rafique.