Tag: imran riaz khan

  • Did Barrister Saif slap Imran Riaz Khan?

    Did Barrister Saif slap Imran Riaz Khan?

    Rumours have been spreading on social media that Advisor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Barrister Muhammad Saif slapped YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan over his misconduct with Chief Minister (CM) KP Ali Amin Gandapur.

    Netizens claimed that Imran Riaz Khan met with CM Ali Amin Gandapur in Peshawar and misbehaved with him.

    Journalist Murtaza Solangi claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that when Ali Amin Gandapur reached CM House, YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan was also present there with the provincial cabinet.

    Imran misbehaved with Ali Amin Gandapur, upon which Barrister Saif slapped Riaz twice and pushed him out from there, Solangi wrote on X (formerly Twitter) without taking names.

    Veteran journalist Umar Cheema, on his Youtube channel, claimed that Barrister Saif denied the allegation of slapping Imran Riaz Khan over his misbehaviour with Ali Amin Gandapur.

    “Advisor KP acted like an illiterate person during the incident,” Cheema stated.

    However. Imran Riaz informed Umar Cheema that there was a confrontation with Barrister Saif regarding Saif’s recent statement about inviting Indian External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to address the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad and clarified that they were not involved in a physical altercation.

    Cheema concluded by saying that later, CM KP mediated between Barrister Saif and Imran Riaz Khan.

  • Shahid Afridi has called Imran Riaz Khan a ‘troll’

    Shahid Afridi has called Imran Riaz Khan a ‘troll’

    Former cricket captain Shahid Khan Afridi has called YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan a “troll”.

    Imran Riaz had criticized Afridi in the context of the current political situation, on which the former all-rounder lashed out at him.

    Shahid Afridi wrote on X (formerly Twitter) “In the cycle of likes, retweets, views, etc., it has become very difficult to differentiate between truth and lies and the difference between a journalist and a troll is that a journalist does research.”

    He wrote, “Slander is the easiest thing, I still stand by my word that Imran bhai (Imran Khan) was my role model after seeing whom I started cricket otherwise I would not have become a cricketer. Because of lies and propaganda my position will change and neither will serve Tehreek-e-Insaaf or Imran Khan.”

    Earlier, journalist Imran Riaz Khan had said in his tweet, “Shahid Afridi congratulated those who stole the country’s mandate. When Afridi started openly criticizing Pakistan’s greatest public leader, people’s patience ran out.”

    “In Pakistan, there are many stars like Shahid Afridi, inferior to him and better than him, who are still connecting themselves with the people in different ways, all of them have their own political thoughts, none of them have won the hearts of the people. Shahid Afridi’s eyes are probably focused on another target.”

    He said, “Risking honor to get positions does not beautify a hero. If he had to speak, Shahid Afridi should have spoken against oppression so that the people who loved him would repay their love. However, Lala always kept the tradition of getting himself out by playing the wrong shot, Afridi once again made the wrong shot selection.”

    Shahid Afridi addressed the fake accounts and post makers in a statement in the past and said, “You should invest your energies in something positive that would be beneficial for yourself if not for anyone else. If I have to talk or make a statement, I have the media and my X (formerly Twitter) handle.”

  • Imran Riaz is missing again: Three possible reasons why we don’t know where he is right now

    Imran Riaz is missing again: Three possible reasons why we don’t know where he is right now

    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.

    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.

  • ‘I am not a traitor’: Imran Riaz speaks up for first time after disappearance

    ‘I am not a traitor’: Imran Riaz speaks up for first time after disappearance

    Anchorperson and YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan has given an interview for the first time following his recovery after disappearing in May.

    “It is unfortunate if I ever thought that someone’s disappearance may be in the interest of the state”, he said when questioned about his previous stance when he advocated that missing persons are not innocent.

    During a podcast with his lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, ‘Cross-Examination’, he said that “The pain is worse when you are tortured by your own people.”

    He however did not reveal his whereabouts during his disappearance, nor what conditions he was kept in.

    In response to the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 9, there were violent demonstrations in various cities of the country and attacks on military installations and buildings.

    The police arrested PTI leaders and activists besides Imran Riaz, who, according to the authorities, was allegedly trying to go abroad from Sialkot airport.

    After his release on May 11, according to police, he went missing outside the prison and returned home several months later in September.

    “I am not a traitor”

    Imran Riaz Khan asserted that he is not a traitor nor did he meet with any enemy of the state.

    “No one should be treated as if he is an enemy of the country,” he said.

    ‘Enforced disappearance is not justified’

    In the past, Imran Riaz Khan used to take on those who criticized the state institutions in the country.

    In one of his vlogs he criticised Gulalai Ismail, a social activist who supports the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM), stating ‘She is one of those women who burns one’s own house to prove their own selves truthful… They do this to become famous in the west.”

    This was at a time when Gulalai had taken refuge in the United States.

    Similarly, Imran Riaz Khan pointed to one of the protests organised for the recovery of missing persons and said that “These people betray the country and attack the institutions.”

    Imran Riaz now admits that he did not feel the gravity of the issue as much as he does now.

    “I regret today that I ever thought in my life that if someone disappeared, it could be in the interest of the state,” adding that he apologises to all the people who he hurt.

    He asserted that there is no justification for enforced disappearances and that if a person is a criminal, they should be brought before the law.

    Nonetheless, Imran Riaz still supports the PECA law, under which journalists can be prosecuted for criticising state institutions in online content.

    He said that PECA should be applied to journalists too, adding that dragging issues through the mud is not journalism.
    “I am in favour of the strictness of the law but against its misuse,” he said.

  • Imran Riaz Khan returns home after four months

    Imran Riaz Khan returns home after four months

    Youtuber and television anchor Imran Riaz Khan has been brought home safely by Sialkot Police on early Monday morning, four months after he was detained.

    Sialkot Police confirmed his release through a post on social media.

    His release was also confirmed by his lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq.

    Riaz was arrested on 11 May, two days after PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9 which resulted in violent protests.

    On September 20, the Lahore High Court (LHC) questioned the Punjab police chief on Riaz, giving him a “last opportunity” to recover the YouTuber by September 26.

  • ‘Last opportunity’ for police to recover Imran Riaz Khan: Lahore High Court

    ‘Last opportunity’ for police to recover Imran Riaz Khan: Lahore High Court

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has said on Wednesday that it’s the “last opportunity” for Punjab Police to recover missing journalist and YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan by September 26, adjourning the hearing till then.

    Imran Riaz was arrested after May 9 riots. He was taken to the Cantt police station and then transferred to Sialkot prison.

    After that, the law officer told the court that Imran Riaz had been released from jail after taking a written undertaking on May 15.

    On May 16, the father of the anchorperson, Muhammad Riaz, filed a first information report (FIR) with the Sialkot Civil Lines police, alleging that Imran had been kidnapped.

    The FIR was registered against “unidentified persons” and police officials for allegedly kidnapping Imran, invoking Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    Imran Riaz’s father also filed a petition in the LHC for his recovery.

  • From watches to visas, is Imran Riaz and Moonis Elahi ka Twitter phadda never ending?

    From watches to visas, is Imran Riaz and Moonis Elahi ka Twitter phadda never ending?

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Moonis Elahi and journalist Imran Riaz Khan have been engaging in Twitter fights since a while.

    Just as it seemed that the trading of barbs had died down, this morning Elahi reignited the feud again, tweeting, “Heard someone’s visa got cancelled due to strong links with criminal elements. He had to go back from airport.”

    Responding to Moonis, Riaz tweeted, “Take the name Moonis Sahib, my visa got cancelled. And yes take the name of the ones because of whom it got cancelled.”

    Moonis replied, “Imran sb It wasn’t meant for you.”

    Riaz calling Moonis “deputy wazir-e-alla” said, “I also know who told you, you enjoy things like this.”

    Their arguments started on December 2, after Moonis Elahi revealed that former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa had advised his party to back Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) when the no-confidence motion was moved against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Riaz, reacting to Moonis’s remarks, tweeted, “And the PTI people kept thinking that Moonis Elahi and Pervaiz Elahi were willing to accept the Chief Minister post because of their conscience’s voice and love for Imran Khan.”

    Moonis didn’t take long to Riaz, stating, “Do not worry. Your ticket is also ready and then you can takeover. And then @PTIofficial as well as others will understand.”

    The journalist reacted by criticising Moonis for “trading party tickets”, calling it the “family business” of the PML-Q leader. “By the way, how is Richard Mille’s wrist watch running which only costs Rs.75 million,” he said referring to a luxury brand of Swiss watches.

    Moonis fired back by denying he owns a Richard Mille watch. “Think they are overpriced. Since you are such a fan shall I send you one? Or shall I present it to you when you ‘officially’ join politics,” he asked the journalist.

    Sharing a picture of his watch, Imran said in a tweet that he liked his own watch very much, advising Moonis not to deny receiving gifts.

    “Ask Farhan about the watch. He will remind you,” he wrote.

  • ‘Laga dein martial law’: Twitter questions ‘what’s wrong’ with Khan?

    ‘Laga dein martial law’: Twitter questions ‘what’s wrong’ with Khan?

    Twitter has reacted strongly to a statement by Imran Khan, the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who said in an interview, “Let them impose martial law.” On the fourth day of his long march, his statement was addressed to the establishment in reply to a question asked by journalist Imran Riaz Khan.

    “Impose martial law. If they want to impose, It doesn’t affect me,” said Khan.

    Khan further added that the current political scenario in the country was worst than former President and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Pervez Musharraf’s martial law. Khan added that when PTI leaders Azam Swati and Shahbaz Gill were tortured they were told that, “Imran would face the same.”

    The former Prime Minister said that he would not be scared or intimidated, adding that those who want to destroy the country’s biggest political party are cowards.

    “Until there is rule of law and accountability for all, there is no future for Pakistan,” Khan said.

    After the interview clip went viral on social media, Twitterati had questions about how Khan spoke and how wrong his statement on martial law was.

  • Anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan arrested, court summons IG Islamabad at 10am today

    Anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan arrested, court summons IG Islamabad at 10am today

    Anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan was arrested on Tuesday night near Islamabad toll plaza by the Attock police.

    Seventeen treason cases have been registered against Imran Riaz Khan across Punjab, while he was also filing a contempt of court case against the police, reports Dawn.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter and said that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has taken notice of the issue and has summoned IG Islamabad at 10am today.

    In a recent video on his Youtube channel, Riaz directly addressed Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and alleged that he was threatened after asking questions from military sources about the country’s current political and economic situation.

    PTI Chairperson Imran Khan condemned the arrest and tweeted, “The country is descending into fascism just to make our nation accept an Imported Govt comprising of mega crooks. It is time for everyone, esp the media, to unite & stand up against this fascism.”

    PTI Secretary General Asad Umar tweeted, “Expression of opinions are met with counterarguments and not through arrests.”

    Fawad Chaudhry tweeted, “Fascist government in the country is using third-grade tactics to stifle critical voices against it.”

    PTI’s central secretary information Farrukh Habib shared a video of Riaz after being arrested.

  • Rape jokes are not a sign of masculinity

    Rape jokes are not a sign of masculinity

    Last week anchors Imran Riaz Khan and Sami Ibrahim were condemned for making homophobic and rape jokes just because the ‘boys club’ could not have a decent debate and in return thought it was okay to make fun of child abuse and rape. The anchors, in order to avoid being interviewed by journalist Matiullah Jan, insinuated that the interviewer was raped in the army barracks back when he was a cadet at the Pakistan Military Academy. Imran and the group of journalists around him, including anchorperson Sami Ibrahim, could be heard laughing and ridiculing Jan, who then challenged them all to invite him on their shows. This incident made us see so-called ‘civilised men’ making rape jokes, clearly reflecting how a sensitive subject like rape and abuse was nothing more than a joke for them. The men seen in the video laughing about someone being raped are not only disgusting, but triggering for those who have actually gone through sexual violence.

    Read more: ‘Such mean tactics can’t deter me from asking questions’: Matiullah reacts to rape comments by Journalists

    Recently, two advertisements of a perfume company in India glorifying rape culture were taken down by the Indian ad regulatory body, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). In one of the ads, four men can be seen entering a store. They are shown having a dispute over who will take a ‘shot’. There are four of them, but only one ‘shot’ is available. During this debate, instead of the bottle of body spray, a woman is shown and it looks like they are having an argument over who will first rape the woman. The woman even turns around in anger, believing the four men are talking about her. However, she is then shown relieved, when one of the men picks up the body spray called ‘Shot’.

    Read more: Promoting rape culture through ads, Indian perfume company faces backlash

    What is most appalling in the scenarios discussed is how normally it is being engrained in our society that promoting rape or making rape jokes is a trait of masculinity. We need to understand that women and men are afraid of sharing their ordeal when they are sexually assaulted because society ridicules them instead of showing empathy. The question remains, why? Why is society not accepting of the person who has been raped? Why do we find the need to ridicule and shame them? When will people understand that it is the rapist who needs to be rebuked, punished, and questioned, not the survivor. The day our society learns to provide the strength where it is required and stand with the survivors of sexual assaults, no one will be frightened to talk about their horrific experiences. It is time to stand up for all victims.