CTD takes EonHoldings fact-finder Saad Riaz into custody over ‘Al-Qaeda Links’

LAHORE – Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) detained Saad Riaz, a journalist working with Eon Holdings, over allegations of links with Al-Qaeda. The arrests sparked questions marked by conflicting claims about the arrest and its timing. According to CTD, a case has been registered against Saad Riaz, accusing him of having connections with Al-Qaeda and attempting to recruit individuals for the outlawed group linked to Osama bin Laden. Authorities further claim that accused was detained from a local mosque while distributing prohibited literature and promoting extremist ideology. Officials also said a membership card allegedly linked to Al-Qaeda was recovered from his possession during the operation. However, the case has quickly turned contentious, with sharply conflicting narratives emerging over the circumstances of his arrest. Social media activists allege that Saad Riaz was not detained from mosque as claimed, but was instead forcibly taken from his residence during a late-night raid several days before the FIR was officially filed. They further assert that CCTV footage from the home supports this claim, although it has not been independently verified. The disputed timing of the FIR, reportedly registered days after his detention intensified questions among observers, raising concerns over procedural transparency and inconsistencies in the official account. Meanwhile, individuals close to Saad Riaz strongly reject allegations of militancy, describing him instead as researcher and academic. They said written extensively on conflicts in regions including Kashmir, Gaza, Afghanistan, and Syria, focusing on themes such as information warfare, media narratives, and geopolitical discourse. Riaz’s family confirmed that they are pursuing the matter through legal channels, expressing full confidence in the judicial system and stating that “the rule of law will take its course,” while declining to comment further due to ongoing proceedings. CTD officials have yet to issue de