The physical remand of senior journalist Matiullah Jan has been challenged in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). His lawyer, Imaan Mazari, filed the petition against the decision made by Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra. The judge had granted a two-day physical remand after the police requested a 30-day remand, which was denied.
Matiullah Jan was arrested in the early hours of Thursday by Islamabad police following an alleged altercation at a security checkpoint in the E-9 sector of the capital. According to the police’s First Information Report (FIR), Jan’s vehicle did not stop when ordered, leading to a collision that injured a constable on duty. The FIR also claims that Jan seized the officer’s government-issued weapon and threatened to kill him. Police further allege that Jan was “under the influence” at the time of the incident. He was taken into custody and a case was registered at Margalla Police Station.
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In response, Rana Sanaullah, the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, dismissed the charges against Matiullah Jan as a “fabricated and concocted story.” In a TV interview, Sanaullah compared Jan’s case to his own past legal battles, claiming that false stories are often fabricated for specific purposes. He also criticised the Islamabad police and called for the FIR to be decided on merit, demanding accountability for those who may have falsely targeted Jan.
Sanaullah further praised Matiullah Jan’s work as an independent journalist, emphasising the importance of fact-checking in countering unverified claims, particularly in the context of misinformation during recent political unrest. He stressed that journalists like Jan play a crucial role in uncovering the truth.
