LAHORE: Anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan who had been missing for more than four months is now “safe at home”, Punjab Inspector General (IG) Dr Usman Anwar confirmed.

Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO) Hassan Iqbal and Riaz’s lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, also confirmed the development.

Riaz — a YouTuber and television anchor — was arrested two days after violent protests broke out across the country following PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9.

He was last known to be taken to Cantt police station after his arrest and later to the Sialkot prison. On May 15, a law officer told the Lahore High Court (LHC) that the anchorperson was released from jail after taking an undertaking in writing.

On September 20, the LHC had given the Punjab police chief a “last opportunity” to recover Riaz by September 26 (tomorrow). During the hearing, LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti had stated that his patience was “running out”.

In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) during the early hours of Monday, the Sialkot police said, “Journalist/anchor Mr Imran Riaz Khan has been safely recovered. He is now with his family.”

Separately, his lawyer Ashfaq, said in a post on X, “By God’s special blessing, grace, and mercy, I have brought back my prince.

“It took a lot of time due to the mountain of difficulties, the last limit of understanding of the matter, a weak judiciary, and the current ineffective public constitution and legal helplessness,” he said.

Journalist Moeed Pirzada credited Riaz’s recovery to the LHC chief justice, “who kept persisting despite knowing the reality”.

“We are all glad that sanity prevailed,” he said, as he called for the release of other arrested in the wake of May 9 violence, especially women. “Let’s move towards a solution and heal this nation!” he said.

PTI leader Hammad Azhar said that the entire nation was rejoicing over Riaz’s return.

Lawyer Khadija Siddiqi termed the development a “positive sign”.

“Latest modus operandi of brazenly silencing voices of dissent seems to have failed miserably! Citizens of Pakistan must not be antagonised by our own state!” she said.

Journalist Wajahat S Khan said that he had spoken to Riaz’s family, adding that the anchorperson was “weak and not in the best of health but he’s back”.