KARACHI/BRUSSELS (NPTV/IFJ): International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)* and its affiliate Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) have condemned the baseless charges against Matiullah Jan.
Veteran journalist Matiullah Jan was taken into custody by Islamabad Police on 27th November, with police registering a FIR on drug possession and terrorism charges. As the pressure built up from the Media Trade Unions and Islamabad High Court (IHC) was approached, he was released from custody on 1st of December.
In an X post on November 27, Jan’s son Abdul Razzaq reported the disappearance of his father, Matiullah Jan, and journalist Sadiq Bashir. Bashir had accompanied Jan to report on claims of casualties following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital.
Whilst leaving the vicinity, unidentified individuals allegedly abducted the two journalists and forcibly placed them into an unmarked vehicle. Bashir was later released, whilst Jan’s whereabouts were unknown, until his appearance at the Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) the following day.
Jan was placed in a two-day remand and charged under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, the Pakistan Penal Code and Control of Narcotic Substances Act (CNSA) 1997. The Islamabad FIR claims a speeding vehicle had injured personnel at a barrier checkpoint on the 28th November, allegedly with the ‘intention of killing them’.
The vehicle was stopped by police, in which constables allegedly found the driver ‘in a state of intoxication’ and in possession of methamphetamine. The driver, who police claim was Matiullah Jan, had reportedly snatched a rifle from a police constable and threatened other officials present at the checkpoint.
Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) maintained: “Matiullah Jan’s arrest reflected the “oppressive tactics employed by state institutions, the police and government officials involved, and was a clear example of a suppression of media voices.”
On 30th November, the ATC approved Jan’s bail plea against surety bonds worth ten thousand rupees each. Earlier, the Islamabad High Court suspended the two-day remand of the journalist, with authorities directed to place Jan in judicial custody. Jan confirmed his release from Adiala Jail on December 1, continuing to deny all charges.
PFUJ said: “We strongly condemn the unlawful arrest of media personnel, and the registration of a fake case on baseless allegations. PFUJ calls for the immediate release of Matiullah Jan.”
IFJ said: “The arbitrary arrest of Matiullah Jan is yet another transparent attempt to silence independent journalism in the public interest. The IFJ calls on the Pakistani government to uphold its commitments to press freedom, and drop all charges against Jan.”
*The IFJ represents 600,000 journalists in 140 countries.
Newspakistan.tv
