IHC issues orders against physical remand of Matiullah Jan

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued orders against the physical remand of journalist Matiullah Jan in a terrorism and narcotics case.

Jan was kidnapped and later found at Islamabad Margalla station. He was said to have been covering PTI Islamabad protests prior to his detention..

The seasoned journalist is facing a case for allegedly threatening security officials and other charges including being intoxicated. The FIR claimed that Jan was found possessing 246 grams of narcotic methamphetamine (crystal meth) when his vehicle was stopped at E-9 in the federal capital.

The prominent journalist Hamid Mir claimed that both Matiullah Jan and journalist Saqib Bashir were abducted by unidentified individuals on the night of November 26. While Bashir was later released, Jan’s whereabouts remained unclear until he was found at the Margalla Police Station.

 IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir took up a petition filed by Jan’s counsels in the morning.

Advocates Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha appeared before the court today as Jan’s lawyers.

Imaan said a bail petition for Jan would also be filed today. IHC Bar Association (IHCBA) President Riasat Ali Azad was present during the hearing as well.

At the outset of the hearing, the ATC’s order was read out on the court’s directives.

“Matiullah Jan was arrested in a false and fabricated case,” Imaan contended before the court.

“We request that the hearing on the petition against his physical remand be held today. If it is held tomorrow or on Monday it will be useless.”