ISLAMABAD: Senior journalist Matiullah Jan was booked on Thursday in a case involving terrorism and narcotics, sparking concerns from rights organizations following reports of his arrest from Islamabad the previous night.
Jan’s son had claimed that his father was “abducted” by “unknown individuals” late Wednesday night, leading to speculation about his whereabouts. By early Thursday morning, it emerged that an FIR had been registered against Jan.
Journalist Asad Toor, who briefly met Jan in the morning, said that the journalist appeared fine but was subsequently taken to an undisclosed location. “They took him from the Margalla police station and disappeared him somewhere. His whereabouts are unknown, and we do not know in which court they will produce him,” Toor said.
When Toor demanded the police show an FIR related to Jan’s arrest, he was initially presented with a document linked to a PTI protest that did not name Jan. However, it later became clear that Jan had been booked in a terrorism case that also included narcotics charges.
Details of the FIR
The FIR, registered by Margalla police at 3:20 a.m. on the complaint of Superintendent of Police Asif Ali, accused Jan of possessing 246 grams of methamphetamine (crystal meth) when his vehicle was stopped at a checkpoint in E-9, Islamabad.
The charges invoked include Section 9(2)4 of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act (CNSA) 1997, which pertains to possessing or trafficking between 100g and 500g of psychotropic substances.
Additionally, the FIR cites:
- Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997
- Several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including those related to rash driving, theft, obstructing public servants, and assault.
Incident Described in the FIR
According to the FIR, a white Toyota Yaris driven by Jan was moving rapidly toward F-10 and ignored police signals to stop. The vehicle allegedly rammed into workers at a checkpoint, injuring Constable Mudassir.
The FIR claims Jan exited the vehicle, assaulted the constable, snatched his SMG rifle, and pointed it at the officer before police managed to recover the weapon. Upon further inquiry, the driver identified himself as Matiullah Jan.
The document further alleges that Jan appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. A subsequent search of the car revealed a bag containing 246 grams of crystal meth under the driver’s seat.
Reactions and Concerns
Rights groups and journalists have expressed alarm over the nature of the charges and the circumstances of Jan’s arrest, which many suspect could be politically motivated. Advocates have called for transparency in the case and the protection of press freedom in Pakistan.
