In a significant development that further exposes Pakistan’s ongoing media repression, senior journalist Imran Riaz Khan has alleged that his abduction in 2023 was directly ordered by Pakistan’s current Army Chief, General Asim Munir. This revelation came during a detailed interview with fellow journalist Sabir Shakir, now also based in the United Kingdom. The interview was uploaded to Shakir’s YouTube channel on May 31, 2025, just days before Imran Riaz departed, from the UK, for performing Hajj that was around 6th June 2025.
Imran Riaz Khan, once a leading television anchor in Pakistan and a vocal critic of the post-Imran Khan political setup, was abducted in May 2023 shortly after being arrested from the Sialkot airport. For several months, his whereabouts remained unknown, sparking widespread concern and international condemnation. According to his account in the interview, he was held incommunicado by Pakistani intelligence agencies and subjected to psychological and physical torment.
“It was not rogue elements,” Imran Riaz stated firmly during the conversation. “I was picked up on the orders of General Asim Munir. Everything that happened to me — the disappearance, the torture, the threats — was sanctioned at the highest level.” He did not disclose all details of his detention, citing ongoing legal concerns and safety, but emphasized that it was a planned and coordinated act by the military establishment.
The interview also revisited the journalist’s harrowing escape route. After his mysterious release in late 2023, Imran remained under constant threat until he, according to his account, managed to flee across the Durand Line into Afghanistan. From there, he made his way to Oman and eventually found political refuge in the UK by December 2024. Since then, he has resumed his work in exile, continuing his commentary on Pakistani politics and civil-military tensions.
Sabir Shakir, who hosted the interview, is himself a prominent journalist with a substantial YouTube following. Known for his investigative reporting and earlier tenure with ARY News, Shakir relocated to the UK following mounting pressures and censorship inside Pakistan. The tone of the interview was one of cautious defiance, as both journalists discussed the consequences of speaking out against the military.
This interview is likely to resonate strongly with human rights groups, media watchdogs, and exiled Pakistani communities. It highlights the continued clampdown on dissenting voices and brings renewed focus to the personal costs borne by journalists challenging Pakistan’s military establishment.