‘Life at risk’: Imran Riaz calls out Salman Ahmad, tells him to leave him alone

Amid claims of applying for asylum abroad, journalist and YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan has called out musician-turned-political worker Salman Ahmad for his social media posts, telling him to leave him alone after having put him and his family’s “life at risk”.

As per the details, Riaz took to X to clarify that he had “never applied for asylum” abroad and the Junoon guitarist as well as former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member needed to forgive him for “ever having talked to him”.

The controversy began when social media user and activist Adil Raja on January 26 claimed that Salman, with his connections in United States (US) government and with President Donald Trump’s aide Richard Grenell, had “obtained an American special emergency visa” for Riaz and his family. 

“For the past several days, I was extremely worried about the life of @ImranRiazKhan I wasn’t sure if he was receiving my messages. I just had a detailed conversation with him. The good news is he is safe and sound. To all those friends who helped me raise an alarm for @ImranRiazKhan safety, my deepest gratitude. IRK is a respected and responsible journalist. He informed me that the @Refugees @UNHumanRights @amnesty are looking after his situation,” the musician and sacked PTI member said in a subsequent post on X.

In a separate post, the Junoon band founding member, who also resides in the US, wrote in a separate post: “Dear @soldierspeaks [Adil Raja] and @ImranRiazKhan, I realised that since yesterday both of you and your vast network of fans are going crazy attacking each other, for no reason at all. We as a nation need to be able to support each other during our time of need. My only request is that you both gentlemen speak with me to resolve any misunderstandings. That would be the best for brothers to achieve.”

He was referring to a war of words that broke out between supporters of both sides due to Raja’s claims regarding troubled Riaz’s whereabouts among other statements.

“Please @sufisal Salman forgive me that I talked to you. You put me and my family’s life on risk. Please leave us alone and I never ever applied for any asylum to any country. I am in touch with UN, EU and almost a dozens of international organisations but no one did this to me. Jazak Allah [sic]” said Riaz as he finally broke silence on the situation.

Meanwhile, social media users expressed anger over Salman’s posts with one user writing: “@sufisal you’re an absolute idiot. Before you spoke nonsense about Bushra bibi and now tried to harm @ImranRiazKhan and his family. Get a life man.”

“You want popularity here? Do you think that any sane person would appreciate what you are doing. Just stop this BS,” wrote another user.

Salman, however, remained undeterred in replying to Imran Riaz while plugging in Junoon band’s Azadi song: “Dear @ImranRiazKhan, our collective struggle is to see Pakistan have freedom of speech, free, fair elections, and end to gross violations of human rights, abductions, torture and killings of innocents. That can only happen with the immediate Release of @ImranKhanPTI. Junoon sey aur ishq sey milti hai Azadi / Qurbani ki bahon mein milti hai Azadi.”

It may be noted that PTI on December 19 terminated Salman’s basic party membership for running a campaign against “the family of Imran Khan”. The action was taken after the musician took to social media to make claims against PTI founder Imran Khan’s wife and former first lady Bushra Bibi.