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Senior journalist Matiullah was granted bail on Saturday against a surety bond of 10,000 rupees.
The decision was made after Jan appeared in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad, with Judge Tahir Abbas Supra presiding. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) had earlier suspended an order for his physical remand.
The IHC’s hearing, led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, focused on Jan’s appeal against his two-day physical remand. Jan’s legal team, including Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha, presented the case, challenging the basis for his arrest. Rashid Ali Azad, President of the Islamabad High Court Bar, highlighted discrepancies in the FIR, particularly the lack of any mention of drug-related charges. After reviewing the case, the IHC ruled that Jan should be considered under judicial remand rather than physical remand.
Matiullah Jan was initially arrested following a controversial incident at a police checkpoint in Islamabad. According to the FIR, Jan’s vehicle failed to stop at a police barricade, leading to an altercation where a police officer was reportedly injured. The FIR also claims that Jan was found in possession of crystal meth (ice), though his defense strongly denies these allegations.
Jan has firmly rejected the charges, asserting that his arrest was politically motivated due to his reporting on sensitive topics, including recent protests and uncovered bodies. He also denied the drug allegations, stating, “Everyone knows I don’t even smoke, let alone use drugs.”
His family has raised concerns about his abduction before his arrest. According to his son, Jan was forcibly taken from PIMS Hospital by unidentified individuals. Journalist Saqib Bashir, who was with Jan, corroborated this account, describing how both were abducted by armed men in a vehicle. Bashir was released after two hours, while Jan was handed over to the police.
This incident follows a troubling pattern for Jan, who was previously abducted in July 2020. The case has sparked widespread concern among press freedom advocates, with many condemning the arrest and treatment of Jan as an attack on journalism in Pakistan. Multiple journalist unions and international organizations have called for a transparent investigation into the matter and for Jan’s immediate release.
