LAHORE:
Anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan was released by Sarwar Road police after magistrates dismissed two FIRs against him on consecutive days. The FIRs accused him of breaching trust and interfering in state matters.
Imran Riaz was apprehended at Lahore airport in the early hours of Wednesday as he was departing to Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrimage, his lawyer Advocate Azhar Siddique stated.
Earlier this year, Imran Riaz was arrested in a corruption case regarding the Dhrabi Lake contract in Chakwal and later granted bail by a special court. However, he was rearrested in another case related to violence outside PTI founder Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence.
On March 10, an anti-terrorism court granted him post-arrest bail against surety bonds worth Rs200,000.
“Registration of cases or even my arrest does not matter to me, but what hurt me the most was being restrained from performing Hajj,” said Imran Riaz.
The courts found that the cases lacked evidence and the accusations were unfounded. Requests for further physical remand by the investigation officers (IOs) were denied.
Also read: Journalist Imran Riaz ‘arrested’ from Lahore airport
Imran Riaz’s counsel, Mian Ali Ashfaq, opposed the IOs’ requests for physical remand. He argued that the cases were fake and intended to prevent Imran Riaz from performing Hajj.
Breach of trust case
According to the FIR, an oral contract for the sale of immovable property was made, and the complainant allegedly paid Rs25 million to the accused. The accused failed to deliver property files in DHA Phase-9, Lahore.
The court observed that the payment was a sale consideration, not an entrustment of property. In entrustment, ownership remains with the transferor, and the transferee possesses the property on behalf of the original owner. This case did not meet the definition of an offence under section 405 of the PPC.
Judicial magistrate Muhammad Kamran Zaffar stated, “I have carefully perused the file but found no progress by the investigation officer. The case lacks the necessary elements to constitute an offence under section 406 of the PPC.” The magistrate discharged Imran Riaz from the case registered by Nishtar Colony police under section 406 of the PPC.
Damaging state property and interfering in state matters
The allegation was that Imran Riaz and five co-accused drove at high speed, broke security barriers, and damaged state property. However, the court found no evidence to establish that Imran Riaz was driving at the time. No eye-witness statements were recorded, and the damaged barrier was not taken into custody.
The court observed that there was no evidence that Imran Riaz used criminal force to deter a public servant from duty. The police record did not explain how the accused obstructed the public servant.
Finally, the court discharged Imran Riaz from the case registered by Sarwar Road police.
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