Srinagar, May 18: A senior journalist of Kashmiri origin has disappeared in the custody of secret agencies of Pakistan Army raising concerns among his family members and media fraternity about his wellbeing.
Journalist Imran Riaz Khan who has been vocal against civilian government especially Pakistan Army and its policies, was arrested by the police on May 11 from the Sialkot Airport while he was allegedly trying to leave the country to escape the wrath of government.
Earlier dozens of journalits have fled the country including senior most journalists to escape the crackdown launched by Pakistan army against its critics. Last year in a similar case, a senior journalist Arshed Shareef was allegedly forced to leave the country and was later killed in Kenya. His family and colleagues blamed former Army Chief and ISI for the murder of the journalist.
Last year in a speech by the journalist available on his youtube channel, he claims that his grandparents belong to Bandipora district of Kashmir and had migrated to Pakistan in 1947.
The Pakistan government started a crackdown against the PTI supporters after former premier Imran Khan's arrest from the premises of the Islamabad High Court on May 9 sparked widespread protests and rioting.
Two days later the Lahore High Court (LHC) had called his detention illegal and directed police to release him. After the release, media reported that the journalist was detained by unknown secret agencies of Pakistan Army while Punjab police expressed ignorance about his whereabouts.
Though LHC directed Inspector General Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar to produce anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan within 24 hours. However even after a week, the whereabouts of Khan are unknown. Several media agencies including journalists claimed that he was in custody of Pakistan army and is being tortured.
Several social activists even claimed that Khan has died in Army’s custody.
After court directions, Police registered an FIR regarding the disappearance on Thursday and the matter is being probed and an investigation is being carried out, the law officer told the court. Khan's lawyer however argued that the police's claims were empty promises.
"The DPO has not only failed to come up with a comprehensive report but also failed to satisfy the court over the measures taken to identify those who took Imran Riaz Khan, the efforts made to trace the vehicle and where the records of the CCTV footage of the event are," the lawyer maintained.
The arguments revolved primarily around how the anchorperson could be traced, if law agencies are unaware of his whereabouts, who could be tasked with producing him before court, the identification of the vehicle used to pick up Khan and how a joint investigation team (JIT) could be formed if the investigation is unsatisfactory.
The Pakistan government has been accused of unleashing a brutal reign of terror to suppress the voice of opposition leader Imran khan who has been demanding elections in two provinces of the country. Several video went viral on social media in which the government forces were seen torturing and sexually harassing PTI workers including women.
Dozens of civilians were killed in firing against peaceful protesters after arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. After his release, Khan blamed government and the army for deliberately attacking sensitive installations so that they get an excuse to launch major crackdown against the party.
