ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday suspended the two-day physical remand of senior journalist Matiullah Jan granted by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Thursday.
Matiullah Jan was sent on a physical remand in the case registered at Margalla Police Station in Islamabad, which includes provisions related to anti-narcotics and anti-terrorism. The FIR was filed on the complaint of Superintendent of Police Asif Ali.
IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir conducted the hearing on a plea filed by human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari. President IHC Bar Association Riasat Ali Azad and his lawyers Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha appeared before the court.
Advocate Riasat Ali Azad, referring to the FIR, argued that the case is baseless and fabricated, as there is no mention of buying and selling of narcotic methamphetamine (crystal meth) in the FIR.
The court, approving the plea, ordered that the journalist should be kept in judicial custody. Further suspending the decision of the Anti-Terrorism Court, the IHC adjourned the hearing of the case till Monday.
The first information report (FIR) mentioned that Matiullah in his white Toyota Yaris injured the police constable Mudassir intentionally after he was signaled to stop at the checkpost on Margalla Road in the E-9 sector.
It further added that the journalist was intoxicated at the time, whereas, police recovered 246 grams of narcotic methamphetamine (crystal meth) from his vehicle. The case was registered at 3:20 am, nearly an hour after his alleged abduction, as per his family, took place.
The case included Section 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 382 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint to the committing of the theft), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 506 (criminal intimidation) along with 7ATA (terrorism-related section) and a narcotics-related section of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.
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