Imran Riaz Khan, a respected journalist, was detained at Islamabad Toll Plaza

  Imran Riaz Khan, a respected journalist, was detained at Islamabad Toll Plaza

Express News anchorperson: "This is blatant contempt of court and won't change anything."

Imran Riaz Khan, a senior journalist and Express News anchor who is the most outspoken opponent of the ruling coalition, was detained in Islamabad Toll Plaza late on Tuesday despite having been granted a pre-arrest bail by a court.

Imran Riaz, who is presently affiliated with Express News, has been named in numerous instances that, in his words, were brought against him because he would not "stop saying the truth."

More than a dozen FIRs have recently been filed against him on serious counts like aiding a revolt and criticising state institutions.

In a video of his detention that quickly became popular on social media, more than a dozen Punjab Police officers can be seen around his car.

He reportedly was detained in a case lodged at the Attock police station and was taken to the same district.

Riaz can be heard on the video stating that he is travelling to the federal centre to request bail from the Islamabad High Court (IHC). "I don't think this [the arrest] changes anything. He added that the arrest was blatantly a contempt of court and urged all journalists to speak up and carry on with their work.

"I am being detained here under the authority of Islamabad because Toll Plaza begins from this location. Since I was also granted bail by Justice Athar Minallah [Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court], this arrest is invalid. The journalist was heard saying in the video, "I have to appear in his court to obtain bail in the morning.

"It doesn't matter if they put me in jail, kill me, or do anything else... I believe we should keep carrying out our responsibilities... All of you journalists, please speak up and carry on with your work.

"I'm going to make an arrest in a brave way... we'll have to wait and see. Authorities have taken my car and guns, and 20 FIRs have been filed against me . Imran Riaz was detained within the boundaries of the Rawalpindi division since cases against him had been filed in Punjab, according to Punjab Law Minister Malik Ahmad, who also confirmed the development.

He continued, "It's incorrect to assume that the arrest took place in Islamabad .According to police sources who spoke to The Express Tribune, Lahore gave the order to arrest the journalist, and the police later seized his things, including his wallet and cell phone.

They claimed there were attempts to conceal his detention, but the Attock police eventually corroborated the claim after video of his arrest spread online.

Riaz was reportedly then transferred to the federal capital's Airport Police Station, according to a police squad led by RPO Rawalpindi.

According to police sources, the journalist was detained in connection with a case that was opened at the City Attock police station after Malik Mureed Abbas, a citizen, filed a complaint under the Electronic Crimes Act and six other provisions.

In the FIR, the individual claimed to have watched a video on social media in which Riaz attempted to damage the reputation of a government agency.

The journalist had petitioned the Islamabad High Court to prevent his detention; in response, the court ordered the relevant authorities not to do so and ordered the journalist to cooperate with law enforcement.

"Imran Riaz Khan was the target of 17 cases around Punjab. When we petitioned the Islamabad High Judge, the court ordered the relevant national authorities not to detain him "Mian Ali Ashfaq, his attorney, said.

He continued by saying that they had also submitted a petition to the Lahore High Court (LHC), on which the court had instructed the head of the Punjab police to furnish a copy of the cases and to refrain from arresting the petitioner. The attorney announced that he will submit a case with the Islamabad High Court protesting the arrest, and expressed his hope that the judges would enforce the court's instructions strictly and secure his release.

Arrest was heavily criticised

Soon after word of the journalist's detention went viral on social media, hashtags in support of him began to trend.

Imran khan, a former prime minister, condemned the journalist's arbitrary detention and claimed that the country was heading toward fascism in order to get the people to accept an imported government made up of mega-crooks. It is time for everyone to get together and fight this tyranny, especially the media.

Imran Riaz Khan's detention was condemned, according to PTI leader Shahbaz Gill "Professional journalist and a patriotic Pakistani, Imran Riaz. He sincerely communicates the facts to the populace."

"[I] vehemently denounce the arrest, and tomorrow there will be a national demonstration against it... The worst tyranny will not be tolerated by journalists or the country, he added, adding that what Shahbaz Sharif and Rana Sana are doing is unprecedented in Pakistani history.

Fawad Chaudhry, a former minister and PTI leader, said: "I'm hoping the judges would pay attention to the court's being disregarded. At the time of Imran Riaz Khan's arrest, 15 SHOs were present."

According to journalist Kamran Khan, the government led by PM Shahbaz is panicking due to its "sinking" approval rating. The arrest of Imran Riaz Khan tonight, just a few days after an attack on Ayaz Amir Sb. in Islamabad, shows that the campaign against free speech is still going strong. The capital is currently the most perilous place for government critics.

Former minister Asad Umar posted on his official account, "Tomorrow, PTI workers will demonstrate in front of press clubs across the country against the detention of Imran Riaz Khan and the attempt to stifle freedom of expression."

Other PTI leaders, journalists, and rights advocates expressed same sentiments and urged the relevant authorities to free the journalist as soon as possible.

"The arrest of Imran Riaz Khan is a stupid attempt to use violence to settle a philosophical argument. These approaches have been ineffective in the past and will remain so. It is insane to keep doing them, said rights campaigner Ammar Ali Jan on his official account.

"Imran Riaz's arrest was unwarranted. You can disagree with him on his affiliation, but it is wrong to stifle free speech by making arrests. Imran Riaz's detention cannot be justified, according to journalist Azaz Syed.

People could be heard yelling "Pakistan Zindabad" and "stop violence against journalists" in a social media footage of Imran Riaz being arrested.

People also took to Lahore’s Liberty Chowk to protest against the arrest of Imran Riaz Khan.

Senior political commentator and former diplomat Zafar Hilaly stated on Twitter, "If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and mute we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter."