Senior journalist and reporter Matiullah Jan was detained by Islamabad Police following reports of a case being filed against him, sources informed Geo News on Thursday.
After his apprehension, Jan was reportedly moved to the Margalla Police Station. However, no official record or copy of the case against him has been provided as yet.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an American NGO, strongly condemned the journalist’s arrest.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Jan’s family claimed he had been “abducted” around 11 PM from the parking area of PIMS hospital by individuals in an unmarked vehicle.
“I demand that my father be released immediately, and his family informed of his whereabouts,” the post added.
Prominent human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari, representing Jan, described the journalist as “missing.” Mazari stated on X that after much persuasion, she was granted access to Margalla Police Station. Upon inspection, detainees inside confirmed that police had moved Jan moments before her arrival.
Hours after his alleged disappearance, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Jan at the Margalla Police Station. According to the FIR, Jan was arrested at an E-9 checkpoint in Islamabad.
The FIR accuses Jan under several charges, including:
- Section 279 (rash driving),
- Section 353 (assault on a public servant),
- Section 382 (theft with intent to cause harm),
- Section 427 (mischief causing damage),
- Section 506 (criminal intimidation),
- Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act,
- A narcotics-related offense.
The document alleges that Jan attempted to flee a police checkpoint, injuring a constable in the process. It also claims he seized official weaponry, issued threats, and was under the influence of drugs, with the substance “ice” found in his vehicle.
Authorities confirmed that Jan is set to appear before the Anti-Terrorism Court later today.
This incident comes as Pakistan ranks 12th on CPJ’s 2024 Global Impunity Index, which highlights the lack of accountability for crimes against journalists. Since 1992, at least 39 journalists have been murdered in Pakistan, with justice served in only three cases.
Jan, no stranger to such ordeals, had previously gone missing in 2020, only to return home 12 hours later. Following his return, he expressed gratitude to journalists, politicians, and the judiciary for their swift action in securing his release.
