Imran Riaz and police fight at Gaddafi stadium

In a confrontation with the police, TV host Imran Riaz attempted to enter the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday along with five guys who were wearing Arshad Sharif masks to demonstrate their support for the deceased journalist.

The scenario became violent as the masked men shouted chants in support of Arshad Sharif and attempted to force Imran Riaz and themselves inside the stadium.

After a police inspector ruled that wearing the mask depicting the "face" of the deceased journalist on the grounds of the stadium was against Pakistan Cricket Board policy/regulations, the two sides began fighting and the TV presenter got into a heated dispute (PCB).

According to the video, the police inspector claimed that using the mask of the murdered Arshad Sharif's face represented a "particular narrative" that could not be shared during a sporting event.

Additionally, he stated that senior officers had given the police assigned to the Gaddafi Stadium for security strong instructions to forbid any actions that would be considered disrespectful to the nation.

Another police officer countered that the stadium was a playground and that the police would not let anything that may tar the national event as contentious given the PCB's directives and the fact that the PSL match was being aired across the globe.

Imran Riaz disputed the police's account and asserted that using the Arshad Sharif disguise was not a form of state sabotage.

He claimed that in order to enjoy the cricket match at the stadium, cricket enthusiasts used to bring their favourite items with them. He claimed that the cops stopped him and his companions/friends despite the fact that he was in possession of a cricket pass.

Youtube

In 2020, he launched the "Imran Riaz Khan" YouTube channel, which has more than 3.48 million members as of October 2022.

He has also hosted current affairs programmes for the television networks Samaa TV and GNN.

Arrest

He was driving "to the federal capital to get bail from the Islamabad High Court" when he entered the Islamabad Toll Plaza on July 5, 2022. He was detained by Punjab Police when they surrounded his vehicle before he could leave Punjab's jurisdiction, despite being aware of court orders from the Islamabad and Lahore High Courts and the issuance of protective pre-arrest bail grants intended to prevent the journalist's arrest.

Later, Riaz posted a video to YouTube threatening to reveal the identities of those responsible for the purported regime change operation, in which outside forces allegedly sparked a constitutional crisis that resulted in the overthrow of Imran Khan's PTI government and what Riaz refers to as a "American conspiracy" against Pakistani sovereignty.

On the day before his arrest, Riaz posted a video on YouTube criticising the Shehbaz Sharif-led administration. In the video, according to Dawn News, Riaz "directly addressed Chief of Army Staff 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." Riaz also mentioned receiving threats against his family.

Imran Khan, a former Pakistani prime minister, vehemently denounced the "arbitrary detention" and urged the populace and media to "unite and stand up against this fascism." Asad Umar, a former official, announced that PTI party members would protest at press clubs around the nation in response to what he called a "effort to crush freedom of expression." Ammar Ali Jan, a scholar and activist, cautioned of the absurdity in "clumsy" uses of force in a "fight of ideas," and reports shortly after the arrest revealed widespread condemnation of the treatment and sentiments of worry based on similar ideological reasons supporting free speech.

Bail

On July 9, 2022, Justice Baqar Najafi of the Lahore High Courts granted him bail. The FIA, at the police's request, added his name to the Exit Control List.

On February 2nd, 2023, he was detained once more.