Senior journalist Matiullah Jan received bail on Saturday after submitting a surety bond of 10,000 rupees.
Jan appeared before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad, where Judge Tahir Abbas Supra presided over the hearing. Earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had suspended an order for Jan’s physical remand.
The IHC hearing, led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, reviewed Jan’s appeal against his two-day physical remand. His legal team, including Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha, argued against the arrest, pointing out flaws in the FIR. Rashid Ali Azad, President of the Islamabad High Court Bar, highlighted that the FIR did not mention any drug-related charges. The court ruled that Jan should remain under judicial remand instead of physical remand.
Jan’s arrest followed an incident at a police checkpoint in Islamabad. According to the FIR, Jan’s vehicle didn’t stop at a police barricade, leading to an altercation where a police officer was allegedly injured. The FIR also claimed Jan was found with crystal meth (ice), but his legal team strongly denied these accusations.
Jan rejected the charges, calling his arrest politically motivated due to his reporting on sensitive issues, including recent protests and uncovered bodies. He dismissed the drug allegations, saying, “I don’t even smoke, let alone use drugs.”
Jan’s family expressed concerns about his abduction before his arrest. His son claimed unidentified individuals forcibly took Jan from PIMS Hospital. Journalist Saqib Bashir, who was with Jan, confirmed the incident, stating armed men abducted them in a vehicle. While Bashir was released after two hours, Jan was handed over to the police.
This is not the first time Jan has faced such incidents. In July 2020, he was abducted under similar circumstances. His recent arrest has sparked outrage among press freedom advocates, who see it as an attack on journalism in Pakistan. Journalist unions and international organizations have demanded a transparent investigation and called for Jan’s immediate release.
