{"id":7231,"date":"2023-05-25T09:46:35","date_gmt":"2023-05-25T08:46:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londonpost.news\/?p=7231"},"modified":"2023-05-25T10:18:31","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T09:18:31","slug":"suspicions-raise-over-the-disappearance-of-imran-riaz-since-12-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/fr\/analysis\/defense\/suspicions-raise-over-the-disappearance-of-imran-riaz-since-12-days\/2023\/05\/25\/admin1\/","title":{"rendered":"Suspicions raise over the disappearance of Famous jounralist Imran Riaz since 12 days"},"content":{"rendered":"

ISLAMABAD(Brussels Independent)-Pakistan is facing a political turmoil challenge but more importantly the question has been raised about the violations of human rights since the current government gained political control by ousting previous prime minister Imran Khan through a no-confidence vote in the national assembly. Many human rights activists and media persons have been detained and tortured during this politically unstable phase which is going on. A blame game is continuously going on and no one knows who is responsible for what? and this situation is leading the state towards more instability, anarchy and chaos. The rule of law and writ of the state has been challenged in this regime which has never been seen before in Pakistan.<\/p>\n

BOL<\/span> News<\/span> Starcaster<\/span> Imran<\/span> Riaz<\/span> Khan,<\/span> better<\/span> known<\/span> as<\/span> Imran<\/span> Riaz,<\/span> has<\/span> been<\/span> missing<\/span> since<\/span> being<\/span> arrested<\/span> by<\/span> airport<\/span> police<\/span> at<\/span> Sialkot<\/span> International<\/span> Airport<\/span> in<\/span> eastern<\/span> Punjab<\/span> on<\/span> May<\/span> 11.<\/span> He<\/span> was<\/span> arrested<\/span> under<\/span> a<\/span> non-violent<\/span> order<\/span> amid<\/span> widespread<\/span> protests<\/span> over<\/span> the<\/span> arrest<\/span> of<\/span> former<\/span> Prime<\/span> Minister<\/span> Imran<\/span> Khan.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Police<\/span> initially<\/span> claimed<\/span> he<\/span> was<\/span> released<\/span> around<\/span> 10am.<\/span>
\n<\/span>At<\/span> 30.30<\/span> am<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> same<\/span> day,<\/span> police<\/span> now<\/span> admit<\/span> they<\/span> took<\/span> him<\/span> away<\/span> in<\/span> a<\/span> police<\/span> van<\/span> after<\/span> he<\/span> was<\/span> “released.”<\/span> The<\/span> confession<\/span> was<\/span> made<\/span> yesterday<\/span> (May<\/span> 22)<\/span> at<\/span> a<\/span> High<\/span> Court<\/span> hearing<\/span> in<\/span> Lahore,<\/span> the<\/span> capital<\/span> of<\/span> Punjab,<\/span> at<\/span> which<\/span> the<\/span> police<\/span> responded<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> complaint<\/span> (known<\/span> as<\/span> the<\/span> “first<\/span> intelligence<\/span> report”).<\/span> was<\/span> ordered<\/span> to<\/span> bring<\/span> journalists<\/span> to<\/span> court.<\/span> ),<\/span> filed<\/span> by<\/span> his<\/span> father<\/span> on<\/span> 16<\/span> May.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is concerned for the life of the missing TV presenter and has immediately told the Pakistani civilian government where and under what conditions he is being held and to enforce the rule of law. We ask that you ensure respect. RSF will hold governments accountable for any damages that may have been caused to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> RSF<\/span> has<\/span> reviewed<\/span> the<\/span> record<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> public<\/span> hearings.<\/span> What<\/span> the<\/span> Punjab<\/span> Police<\/span> Inspector<\/span> General<\/span> said<\/span> in<\/span> court<\/span> was<\/span> a<\/span> clear<\/span> acceptance<\/span> of<\/span> state<\/span> responsibility.<\/span> “We<\/span> have<\/span> interviewed<\/span> police<\/span> all<\/span> over<\/span> Pakistan,”<\/span> the<\/span> inspector<\/span> general<\/span> said.<\/span> “No<\/span> one<\/span> has<\/span> Imran<\/span> Riaz<\/span> (…)<\/span> Imran<\/span> Riaz<\/span> Khan<\/span> was<\/span> not<\/span> wanted<\/span> by<\/span> us.<\/span> However,<\/span> the<\/span> “agencies”<\/span> had<\/span> made<\/span> a<\/span> request<\/span> for<\/span> a<\/span> police<\/span>\u00a0van.<\/span> [The<\/span> court]<\/span> can<\/span> call<\/span> the<\/span> authorities<\/span> and<\/span> ask<\/span> them<\/span> why<\/span> they<\/span> requested<\/span> a<\/span> police<\/span>\u00a0van.<\/span>“<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u201cThere<\/span> is<\/span> no<\/span> point<\/span> turning<\/span> a<\/span> blind<\/span> eye<\/span> to<\/span> the ‘agencies’<\/span>\u00a0euphemism<\/span>.<\/span> It<\/span> was<\/span> clearly<\/span> Pakistani<\/span> military<\/span> intelligence<\/span> that<\/span> kidnapped<\/span> Imran<\/span> Riaz<\/span> Khan.<\/span> Therefore,<\/span> it<\/span> is<\/span> up<\/span> to<\/span> Prime<\/span> Minister<\/span> Shahbaz<\/span> Sharif’s<\/span> civilian<\/span> government<\/span> to<\/span> ensure<\/span> respect<\/span> for<\/span> the<\/span> rule<\/span> of<\/span> law,<\/span> otherwise<\/span> the<\/span> Pakistani<\/span> authorities<\/span> will<\/span> be<\/span> held<\/span> directly<\/span> responsible<\/span> for<\/span> the<\/span> damage<\/span> he<\/span> has<\/span> suffered.<\/span> The<\/span> government’s<\/span> silence<\/span> about<\/span> the<\/span> TV<\/span> presenter’s<\/span> fate<\/span> may<\/span> have<\/span> gone<\/span> awry<\/span> since<\/span> he<\/span> was<\/span> abducted,<\/span> and<\/span> may<\/span> even<\/span> have<\/span> died<\/span> in<\/span> custody,<\/span> according<\/span> to<\/span> classified<\/span> diplomatic<\/span> sources consulted<\/span>\u00a0by<\/span> RSF.<\/span>\u00a0
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The<\/span> TV<\/span> host<\/span> has<\/span> become<\/span> a<\/span> nuisance<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> military<\/span> because<\/span> he<\/span> and<\/span> his<\/span> TV<\/span> station<\/span> supported<\/span> former<\/span> Prime<\/span> Minister<\/span> Imran<\/span> Khan.<\/span> He<\/span> had<\/span> previously<\/span> been<\/span> arrested<\/span> on<\/span> July<\/span> 5,<\/span> 2022<\/span> on<\/span> charges<\/span> brought<\/span> by<\/span> the<\/span> prosecution<\/span> in<\/span> connection<\/span> with<\/span> his<\/span> criticism<\/span> of<\/span> military<\/span> and<\/span> intelligence<\/span> powers.<\/span> And<\/span> in<\/span> February<\/span> of<\/span> this<\/span> year,<\/span> he<\/span> was<\/span> arrested<\/span> again<\/span> pending<\/span> a<\/span> judge’s<\/span> order<\/span> to<\/span> release<\/span> him.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>state<\/span> within<\/span> state<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The<\/span> Pakistani<\/span> military,<\/span> which<\/span> operates<\/span> as<\/span> a<\/span> “state<\/span> within<\/span> a<\/span> state”,<\/span> is<\/span> often<\/span> accused<\/span> of<\/span> using<\/span> various<\/span> intelligence<\/span> agencies<\/span> and<\/span> their<\/span> cronies<\/span> to<\/span> kidnap<\/span> journalists<\/span> and<\/span> even<\/span> torture<\/span> them<\/span> in<\/span> custody.<\/span> The<\/span> previous<\/span> target<\/span> was<\/span> journalist<\/span> Gohal<\/span> Wazir,<\/span> whose<\/span> April<\/span> 19<\/span> kidnapping<\/span> was<\/span> subsequently<\/span> condemned<\/span> by<\/span> the<\/span> RSF.<\/span> Wazir<\/span> was<\/span> beaten<\/span> repeatedly<\/span> and<\/span> electrocuted<\/span> while<\/span> being<\/span> held<\/span> for<\/span> 30<\/span> hours.<\/span> He<\/span> said<\/span> he<\/span> was<\/span> released<\/span> only<\/span> after<\/span> agreeing<\/span> to<\/span> be<\/span> videotaped<\/span> in<\/span> support<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> Pakistani<\/span> army.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The<\/span> profile<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> BOL<\/span> News<\/span> moderator<\/span> is<\/span> reminiscent<\/span> of<\/span> ARY<\/span> News<\/span> moderator<\/span> Arshad<\/span> Sharif,<\/span> who<\/span> is<\/span> also<\/span> endorsed<\/span> by<\/span> the<\/span> former<\/span> prime<\/span> minister.<\/span> Fearing<\/span> being<\/span> kidnapped,<\/span> Sharif<\/span> fled<\/span> Pakistan<\/span> in<\/span> August<\/span> 2022<\/span> and<\/span> took<\/span> refuge<\/span> in<\/span> Kenya,<\/span> where<\/span> he<\/span> died<\/span> on<\/span> October<\/span> 23<\/span> after<\/span> being<\/span> shot<\/span> at<\/span> at<\/span> close<\/span> range<\/span> in<\/span> a<\/span> Nairobi<\/span> suburb.<\/span> Evidence<\/span> collected<\/span> by<\/span> RSF<\/span> clearly<\/span> points<\/span> to<\/span> Pakistan’s<\/span> responsibility.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ISLAMABAD(Brussels Independent)-Pakistan is facing a political turmoil challenge but more importantly the question has been raised about the violations of human rights since the current government gained political control by ousting previous prime minister Imran Khan through a no-confidence vote in the national assembly. Many human rights activists and media persons have been detained and […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7232,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":""},"categories":[26,252,280,562,2406],"tags":[56,4838,5399,5400,5401,5402,5403,5404],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Pakistan_20230523_ENG.jpg","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7231"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7231"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7231\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7234,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7231\/revisions\/7234"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}