An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad granted bail to senior journalist Matiullah Jan on Saturday in a case involving terrorism and narcotics charges. The court, under the supervision of Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, set a bond of Rs10,000 for the bail approval.
This decision followed Jan’s arrest by Islamabad Police at the E-9 checkpoint, where he was accused of assaulting officers, attempting to seize their weapons, issuing threats, and being under the influence of drugs. The police reportedly recovered “ice” from his vehicle during the arrest.
The FIR against him includes multiple charges under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (CrPC), such as Sections 279 (reckless driving), 353 (assault on a public servant), 382 (theft with intent to harm), 427 (mischief causing damage), 506 (criminal intimidation), as well as Section 7ATA (terrorism) and narcotics-related provisions.
Initially, Matiullah Jan was placed under two days of physical remand by the ATC. However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the remand on Friday.
The arrest sparked widespread condemnation, not only from media and human rights groups but also from within the government. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, described the case as “fabricated.“
Prominent political figures, including former Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), called for Jan’s release. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui also expressed his disapproval, stating, “What happened to Jan is very sad, regardless of the reasons behind it.”
