He is one of Pakistan’s most famous journalists and YouTubers. Imran Riaz was arrested by Pakistani police in May on his way out of the country. After a few days in custody, he was picked up by a civilian car. Since then, neither the police nor the authorities in Pakistan have known where he has been. There has been much speculation about who abducted him, and whether he was even alive. TOUGH STYLE: Imran Riaz was one of Pakistan’s hardest-hitting journalists before he was arrested. Photo: The Twitter account of Imran Riaz On Monday came the happy news his family and supporters have been waiting for. – By God’s grace and mercy, I have brought back my hero, writes his lawyer on X, formerly known as Twitter. The lawyer has also published a picture of him kissing Riaz, who looks much thinner and weaker than usual. – I spoke to Imran’s family. He is weak and his health is not good, but he is back, writes another well-known Pakistani journalist, Wajahat S. Khan, on X. Critical of the army, Riaz is described as one of the most outspoken journalists in Pakistan. He has more than four million followers on YouTube, and more than five million on X. The journalist was one of the foremost defenders of Pakistan’s deposed Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is imprisoned for, among other things, corruption. POWERFUL: Imran Riaz was very critical of the army’s interference in Pakistani politics. Photo: AP Khan came to power in 2018 in a landslide election, but was removed from power last year in a vote of no confidence in the Pakistani parliament. Khan and his supporters have always believed that he was removed in a conspiracy hatched by Pakistan’s powerful army, the opposition and the United States. It was precisely the support for the former prime minister that got the journalist in trouble, according to himself. – When you see this video, I must have been arrested, Riaz said in a video clip in May a few hours before he disappeared. – The reason is that ever since the regime change in this country I have presented the truth to you. I have been fired from four jobs, me and my family have been threatened and harassed. My house has been surrounded by armed men. I am under constant surveillance. They have done everything to silence my criticism, says Riaz in what is the latest video on his channel. SUPPORTED KHAN: Imran Riaz believes he was arrested for his support of the ousted Prime Minister, Imran Khan. Photo: AFP Relief in Norway Imran Riaz has had many supporters in Norway as well. Among them is Zeeshan Shah. – I am happy and relieved. After four months in limbo, the news of his release is fantastic. Shah believes Riaz is popular because he spoke against power. – Imran is among the few Pakistani journalists who stood on the side of the truth. He did not hesitate to criticize the authorities for human rights violations. HAPPY: Norwegian-Pakistani Zeeshan Shah is happy about the release, but is worried about the health of Imran Riaz. Photo: Privat No one has taken the blame for the abduction of the journalist. Pakistani authorities have also not commented on the release. A court in the big city of Lahore has for several months demanded that the country’s powerful intelligence services find the journalist, but they have denied that Riaz has been in their custody. Earlier this summer, news confronted Pakistan’s deputy foreign minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, about the disappearance. – This matter has a high priority for us. At this time, we do not know where this journalist is. It is worrying and we need to find out where he has become. Norwegian-Pakistani Zeeshan Shah and many other exiled Pakistanis, on the other hand, have a theory about who might have been behind the journalist’s disappearance. – Unfortunately, these disappearances without a trace are common in Pakistan. They have been going on for decades. Even the police refuse to know where the missing person is. But most people know who is behind it. It is often the intelligence services, he believes. Amnesty campaign Amnesty International started a signature campaign for Riaz. They demanded that the Pakistani authorities find out what had happened to the journalist and that he be released as soon as possible. The Norwegian top lawyer Geir Lippestad also got involved in the disappearance case. – It is a day of joy for Imran and his family that he has come home. Lippestad has also assisted the journalist’s family. ENGAGED: The Norwegian top lawyer Geir Lippestad has also tried to find Imran Riaz. Photo: NTB – It has been a great burden for the family that no one has taken responsibility. It shows what kind of human rights violations are being committed in Pakistan right now. – The fact that Amnesty has become involved shows that international involvement is important for political prisoners, says Lippestad. Journalists live dangerously In the pictures that have been published on social media today of Riaz, he looks taken. Norwegian-Pakistani Shah hopes Riaz will continue the fight for freedom of expression in Pakistan, but is unsure if his health allows it. – He has been through a tough prison stay. Many fear that he is severely traumatized. Journalists who have been able to meet him today say that he is struggling to speak. That was Imran’s strength before he disappeared. Pakistan is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists. In the last four years alone, 42 journalists have been killed. In the capital Islamabad alone, there have been 56 attacks against journalists and media houses, according to the Freedom Network. Pakistan ranks 150th (out of 180 places) on Reporters Without Borders’ press freedom index.
ttn-69
TV celebrity disappeared without a trace – today he turned up
