Youtuber Imran Riaz Khan is under arrest once again and Pakistanis have a lot to say
The reason for YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan’s arrest is currently disputed. The journalist was arrested Thursday night.
Here are three possibilities behind his arrest:
1. Earlier, Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing had summoned Khan and journalist Asad Toor, for allegedly being a part of an anti-judiciary campaign on social media platforms, calling them to appear on February 23.
2. According to court reporter A. Waheed Murad, Imran Riaz has been summoned by Lahore court to present his defence for taking the Darabi Lake contract along with his father in Lahore court.
Let the world know that Pakistani journalist Imran Riaz Khan @ImranRiazKhan has been illegally arrested once again.
— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 23, 2024
Mr. Khan suffered enforced disappearance & custodial torture for many months, at the hands of the illegitimate, authoritarian, fascist regime.
Imran Riaz Khan is… pic.twitter.com/C70rM2Yunh
3. While his detention is being condemned, he is being criticised for recently resharing an inflammatory post on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision to grant bail to a member of Ahmadiyya community which sparked severe backlash.
Khan is being criticised for further inciting hate and violence by resharing a hateful post.
Even though the original post was deleted, his apparent endorsement remains condemnable.
Imran Riaz Khan and all others twisting facts to push fake blasphemy charges against CJP should be ashamed of themselves. Those who cannot learn empathy even after undergoing suffering should be deemed cruel and hopeless.
— Ammar Ali Jan (@ammaralijan) February 21, 2024
Every-time I try to sympathise with this bigot of a cult, they show that they deserve none.
— rameen (@rameensak) February 23, 2024
Imran Riaz Khan has been lawfully arrested for hate speech and inciting a false campaign against the CJP.
The propaganda you think you can enjoy propagating, will consume you too. https://t.co/7I9IJX3MNr
No sympathy for a bigot like Imran Riaz Khan who willingly tried to put Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s life in danger by using religion. We still remember how this hypocrite blamed Noor Muqaddam for her murder‼️
— Saad Kaiser 🇵🇰 (@TheSaadKaiser) February 23, 2024
As expected, the vile unfounded blasphemy campaign against QFI has spread like wildfire. Pro-PTI journalists like IKR & Jan openly fanning the flames & religious parties entering the fray. These are lies that can cause deadly violence. Need saner heads to reign in these impulses.
— Ammar Rashid (@AmmarRashidT) February 21, 2024
