LAHORE: A judicial magistrate on Friday discharged anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan from a new case of breaking security barriers and running over Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel at the Lahore airport.

Earlier, the police presented Riaz before the magistrate and sought 10-day physical remand for his custody. The investigating officer said the custody of the suspect was needed to trace his accomplices.

Advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq, the counsel for the anchorperson, argued that his client was falsely implicated in the case. The counsel argued that Riaz should be discharged from this false case as well.

After hearing both sides, Magistrate Hafiz Kashif Liaqat discharged Imran Riaz from the case and ordered his release.

The magistrate observed that the police did not present sufficient evidence to prove the charge against the journalist.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2024