PTI has announced to hold a nationwide protest against the recent arrest of senior journalist and anchor person Imran Riaz Khan which has caused a storm in Pakistan.
Former Planning Minister and PTI leader Asad Umar said that the party would stage a nationwide protest against the arrest of the ‘prominent’ journalist.
“PTI workers will protest in front of press clubs across the country against the arrest of Imran Riaz Khan and the attempt to suppress freedom of expression,” Asad Umar tweeted.
کل پاکستان تحریک انصاف کے ورکرز پریس کلبوں کے سامنے ملک بھر میں عمران ریاض خان کی گرفتاری اور آزادی اظہار کو دبانے کی کوشش کے خلاف احتجاج کریں گے
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) July 5, 2022
PTI leader and former SAPM Shahbaz Gill said that the country has not witnessed such actions in General Pervez Musharraf’s tenure.
“Every attempt to suppress journalists will be thwarted,” Dr Shahbaz Gill said, urging the party workers to protest against the ‘imported government’.
عمران ریاض کی گرفتاری کی پرزور مذمت کرتے ہیں اور اسکے خلاف کل ملک گیر احتجاج بھی کیا جائے گا، شہباز شریف اور رانا ثناء جو کر رہے اسکی مثال پاکستان کی تاریخ اور بدترین آمریت میں بھی نہیں ملتی اسے نہ صحافی برداشت کریں گے اور نہ ہماری قوم۔https://t.co/bS9MgOzDiH
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) July 5, 2022
PTI condemns Imran Riaz’s arrest
Late Tuesday, journalist Imran Riaz Khan was arrested near the outskirts of Islamabad in connection with a “treason” case registered against him in Attock. Pertinent to mention, the Punjab police arrested Imran Khan disregarding the fact that a court has already granted him a pre-arrest bail.
Imran Riaz Khan has been extremely critical of the incumbent government. In many of his vlogs, he has been “exposing” the government and lashing out at the state institutions as well. His popularity has increased as he seems to be voicing the wider public sentiment against the government.
Read more: Nation in fury over journalist Imran Khan’s arrest
Since then, Imran Riaz Khan has been implicated in a slew of cases that he says were motivated by his refusal to “stop speaking the truth”. Also, the Punjab police have been active against him for quite some time. This is being considered by the public as a fascist move by the PML-N-led government to suppress freedom of speech and take strict action against anyone being critical.
PTI, for whom journalist Imran Riaz Khan has voiced strong support, has condemned the arrest, while criticizing the incumbent government. PTI leaders have expressed their concern, including PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“I strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest of Imran Riaz Khan by Punjab police. The country is descending into fascism just to make our nation accept an Imported Govt comprising of mega crooks. It is time for everyone, especially the media, to unite and stand up against this fascism,” the former premier tweeted.
I strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest of @ImranRiazKhan by Punjab police tonight. The country is descending into fascism just to make our nation accept an Imported Govt comprising of mega crooks. It is time for everyone, esp the media, to unite & stand up against this fascism.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 5, 2022
“Imran Khan spoke in detail about the ban on journalists in Pakistan and said that the fascist government in the country will use third-rate tactics to stifle critical voices against him. Strongly condemn the arrest of Imran Riaz. The courts will open and justice will be done,” Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.
آج ہی عمران خان نے پاکستان میں صحافیوں پر پابندیوں کے حوالے سے تفصیلی بات کی تھی اور کہا تھا کہ ملک میں فاشسٹ حکومت اپنے خلاف تنقیدی آوازوں کو دبانے کیلئے تیسرے درجے کے ہتھکنڈے استعمال کرے گی، عمران ریاض گرفتاری کی شدید مذمت کرتے ہیں امید ہے عدالتیں کھلیں گی اور انصاف ہو گا
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) July 5, 2022
Read more: Watch Moeed Pirzada analysis on arrest of anchor Imran Riaz