Senior Journalist and Anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan has been cleared from bogus FIR charges as Judicial Magistrate Attock Yasir Tanvir concluded that the senior journalist didn’t attract any offense or charges mentioned in FIR. The local court remained open throughout the night and after hearing both sides, the court reserved the final verdict.
In his written order, Judicial Magistrate Yasir Tanvir notes that “the foundational document for the initiation of any criminal case in the police station is First Information Report. As per the crime report, there is no specific word mentioned which was used by the present accused for causing alarm, fear or incite against the Pak Army.”
Honorable Judicial Magistrate also added that the CD of Imran Riaz Khan program was also run by police in open court and there was nothing derogatory in it against state institutions. “After hearing and seeing the whole CD, at this stage, it is found that the accused present in the court did not use any derogatory remarks or any other which can be said that the accused committed the offenses levelled in the FIR.”
The written order also shed the light on the dubious conduct of the Punjab Police Chief. After going through the documents submitted by Imran Riaz Khan’s counsel Mian Ali Ashfaq, Judicial Magistrate concluded that Lahore High Court asked the prosecution to submit FIRs recorded in Punjab province. “As per reply submitted on behalf of IG Punjab Police, has not mentioned the FIR in hand, concealed from the Honourable Lahore High Court, hence not come to court with clean hands.”
By keeping the above important facts in consideration, the court discharged the accused Journalist Imran Riaz Khan from this case and directed the police that he be released forthwith if not required in any other case.
