Journalist Imran Riaz Khan arrested from Islamabad toll plaza. The Express Tribune

Islamabad:

senior journalist and categorical information Anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan, probably the most outspoken critic of the ruling coalition, was arrested late Tuesday night time from the Islamabad toll plaza in defiance of the truth that a courtroom has already granted him pre-arrest bail.

Imran Riaz, who’s presently related to categorical informationHe has been implicated in a number of counts, which he says had been motivated by his refusal to “stop telling the truth”.

Recently, greater than a dozen FIRs have been registered towards him on critical prices like incitement to rise up and criticism of state establishments.

In a video of his arrest that went viral on social media, greater than a dozen policemen of Punjab Police may be seen round his automobile.

Reportedly, he was arrested in a case registered at Attock police station and brought to the identical district.

Read additionally: A case of sedition filed against the anchor of Express News on the complaint of gutkha seller

In the video, Riyaz may be heard saying that he’s coming to the capital to hunt bail from the Islamabad High Court (IHC). “I don’t think so [arrest] No matter what… I am requesting all the journalists to raise their voices and perform their duties,” he stated, including that the arrest was in clear contempt of courtroom.

“It is the jurisdiction of Islamabad where I am being arrested as the toll plaza starts from here. Justice Athar Minallah [Chief Justice Islamabad High Court] I have also been granted bail, so this arrest is wrong in this situation. I have to appear in their court in the morning to seek bail,” the journalist may be heard saying within the video.

“It would not matter in the event that they imprison me or kill me or no matter… I feel we should always proceed to carry out our duties… I urge all journalists to lift their voices and I request you to maintain doing my job.

“I’m going to arrest with braveness… will see what occurs subsequent… My automobile and weapons have been snatched away [by authorities] And 20 FIRs had been registered towards me.

Punjab Law Minister Malik Ahmed confirmed the event however stated that Imran Riaz was arrested throughout the limits of Rawalpindi division as instances had been registered towards him in Punjab.

“The assumption that the arrest was made in Islamabad is wrong,” he stated.

Police sources informed The Express Tribune Instructions to arrest the journalist had been acquired from Lahore and his belongings together with cell phone and pockets had been additionally later confiscated by the police officers.

He stated that an try was made to cover his arrest however later the Attock police confirmed the event after footage of his arrest went viral on social media.

The police workforce led by RPO Rawalpindi stated Riyaz was later transferred to the airport police station within the federal capital.

Read additionally: Journalist Ayaz Amir attacked in Lahore

Police officers stated that the journalist has been arrested below the Electronic Offenses Act and 6 different sections in a case registered on the City Attock police station on the criticism of a citizen named Malik Murid Abbas.

In the FIR, the citizen stated that he noticed a video on social media during which Riyaz tried to malign the picture of a state establishment.

The journalist had filed a petition within the Islamabad High Court to evade arrest, upon which the courtroom directed the authorities involved to not arrest him and directed the journalist to cooperate with regulation enforcement companies.

His lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq stated, “There are 17 cases registered against Imran Riyaz Khan across Punjab. When we had filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court, the court directed the concerned authorities across the country not to arrest him. was.”

He stated he had additionally filed a petition within the Lahore High Court (LHC), on which the decide directed the Punjab Police chief to supply a replica of the instances and never arrest him. The lawyer stated that he would file a petition within the Islamabad High Court towards the arrest and hoped that the honorable decide would take strict motion towards these violating the courtroom’s orders and guarantee their launch.

widespread condemnation of the arrest

The hashtag in favor of the jailed journalist began trending on social media quickly after the information of his arrest went viral.

Condemning the arbitrary arrest of the journalist, former PM Imran stated, “The nation is descending into fascism, only for our nation to just accept an imported authorities which consists of mega crooks. It is time for all, particularly the media, to unite and stand towards this fascism.

Condemning the arrest of Imran Riaz Khan, PTI chief Shahbaz Gill stated, “Imran Riaz is a patriotic Pakistani and professional journalist. He honestly brings truth to the people.”

,[I] Strongly condemn the arrest and there will probably be nationwide protests towards it tomorrow. What Shahbaz Sharif and Rana Sana are doing isn’t within the historical past of Pakistan and the worst dictatorship by journalists and the nation is not going to be tolerated.

Former minister and PTI chief Fawad Chaudhary stated, ‘I hope the decide will take cognizance of the contempt of courtroom. At the time of the arrest of Imran Riyaz Khan, 15 SHOs had been current there.

Journalist Kamran Khan stated that with the approval score “sinking”, the PM Shahbaz-led authorities is in a state of panic. “The assault towards freedom of expression continues with the arrest of Imran Riyaz Khan tonight, simply days after the assault on Ayaz Amir SB in Islamabad. The capital is now probably the most harmful space for critics of the federal government.”

Former minister Asad Umar introduced on his official deal with, “Tomorrow, PTI will protest in front of press clubs across the country against the arrest of activist Imran Riaz Khan and his attempt to suppress freedom of expression.”

Other PTI leaders, journalists and rights activists additionally echoed related sentiments and urged the authorities involved to launch the journalist on the earliest.

“The arrest of Imran Riyaz Khan is a clumsy attempt to win the battle of ideas through the barrel of a gun. These methods have failed in the past and will continue to fail. It is madness to repeat them,” wrote rights activist Ammar Ali Jan on his official deal with.

“Imran Riaz’s arrest is unfair. You can object and disagree with their affiliation, but it is not right to suppress freedom of expression through arrest. The arrest of Imran Riaz cannot be supported,” wrote journalist Ajaz Syed.

A video shared on social media confirmed individuals elevating slogans of “Pakistan Zindabad” and “Stop violence against journalists” as Imran Riaz was detained.

The journalist may be seen standing behind bars in one other.

People additionally went to Liberty Chowk in Lahore to protest towards the arrest of Imran Riyaz Khan.

Senior political analyst and former diplomat Zafar Hilly wrote in a Twitter submit, “If freedom of expression is taken away, we can be dumb and silent, like sheep to slaughter.”

(with further enter from the information desk)