ISLAMABAD — Pakistani police on Tuesday arrested a senior journalist and TV anchor, Imran Riaz Khan, when he was entering the federal capital to appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday.
Imran is a strong critic of Pakistan’s military establishment and the current coalition government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Imran says he is facing around 20 criminal cases and some of them even involve terrorism-related charges.
Imran was arrested at the Islamabad toll plaza, on the outskirts of the federal capital by the personnel of the Punjab Police.
Earlier, the government had seized his bullet-proof vehicle and personal as well as licenced weapons.
عمران ریاض خان اٹک سٹی پولیس سٹیشن میں حوالات سے کچھ بتا رہے آپ کو pic.twitter.com/NjIMR8MzTj
— Makhdoom Shahab-ud-Din (@ShahabSpeaks) July 5, 2022
Imran’s arrest triggered a widespread condemnation on social media and protests in parts of the country.
Prominent among those who led the condemnation campaign were many fellow journalists as well as ousted prime minister Imran Khan and members of his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
I strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest of @ImranRiazKhan by Punjab police tonight. The country is descending into fascism just to make our nation accept an Imported Govt comprising of mega crooks. It is time for everyone, esp the media, to unite & stand up against this fascism.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 5, 2022
لاہور میں سینیئر صحافی عمران ریاض خان کی گرفتاری کے خلاف عوام سڑکوں پر نکل آئی۔ لبرٹی چوک پر عوام کا احتجاج#WeStandWithImranRiaz#میں_بھی_عمران_ریاض_ہوں pic.twitter.com/h41Mq3DGbz
— PTI Lahore (@PTIOfficialLHR) July 5, 2022
From Islamabad High Court ;
We will come out for @ImranRiazKhan across the country today ! #WeStandWithImranRiaz pic.twitter.com/Fdei8aAOk1
— Dr. Iftikhar Durrani (@DuraniIftikhar) July 5, 2022
جشن مناننے والے ہار گئے ہیں ۔ جو بھی ظلم کے خلاف آواز اٹھاتا ہے اللہ اس کا نگہبان بن جاتا ہے https://t.co/qMW5xRTQeW
— Arif Hameed Bhatti (@arifhameed15) July 5, 2022
عمران ریاض کی گرفتاری کی مذمت کرتے ہے۔ اختلاف رائے کو ایسے طاقت کے زور پر دبایا نہیں جاسکتا۔ جو آپکو یہ مشورے دے رہا وہ آپ کا دوست نہیں دشمن ہے۔ #ReleaseImranRiazKhan pic.twitter.com/MgURM0wUND
— Farrukh Habib (@FarrukhHabibISF) July 5, 2022