Senior journalist Matiullah Jan was reportedly arrested in Islamabad after the recent PTI protests, sources revealed on Thursday.
Earlier, anchor and journalist Hamid Mir claimed Matiullah Jan had been abducted in Islamabad. Reports later confirmed Jan was at the Margalla Police Station in Islamabad.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Hamid Mir alleged that Matiullah Jan and another journalist, Saqib Bashir, were abducted by unidentified individuals on November 26. Saqib Bashir was released shortly after, but Matiullah Jan remains missing.
Mir also shared that Saqib Bashir plans to file a petition in the Islamabad High Court over the incident. Journalist Roohan Ahmad reported that Jan was taken from outside PIMS Hospital in Islamabad.
Recently, Jan posted a video showing a Rangers official being hit by a vehicle in Islamabad. He claimed the vehicle was driven by a Rangers officer, though other officials said protesters were responsible. Jan also accused PIMS staff of being pressured to underreport casualties from the operation against PTI protesters.
The arrest has raised concerns among journalists and human rights activists. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) demanded Jan’s immediate and unconditional release, calling the arrest an “authoritarian tactic to silence journalists.” The HRCP urged authorities to end such actions immediately.
