Senior journalist Matiullah Jan was released on November 30 after being granted bail by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad, with a bond set at Rs10,000.
Jan had been arrested in a case involving terrorism and narcotics possession, which rights groups and journalist bodies have widely condemned as “bogus” and based on “trumped-up charges.”
Jan was initially presented before the Anti-Terrorism Court on November 28, where a two-day physical remand was granted. However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) intervened on November 29, suspending the physical remand after Jan’s legal team argued the charges lacked merit.
The IHC directed that Jan be placed on judicial remand. The Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) also supported Jan’s petition, pointing out flaws in the FIR, which notably did not include any mention of narcotics trafficking.
On the night of November 27, Jan was abducted from outside Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
The FIR, registered the following day, accused Jan of terrorism and narcotics possession, alleging he had 246 grams of crystal meth (ICE) and had threatened police officers at a checkpoint.
The report also claimed Jan tried to ram his vehicle into a police barricade and assaulted a constable. These accusations have been widely criticized as fabricated and politically motivated.
In a detailed vlog shared on his official YouTube channel, MJTV, Matiullah Jan shared his entire story, from his abduction to his eventual release on bail, providing insight into the ordeal and the fight for justice.
Follow INCPAK on Facebook / X / Instagram / Google News / Whatsapp for updates.
