ISLAMABAD: Hours after the senior journalist Matiullah Jan was abducted from outside the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad Police confirmed that he was arrested under the sections of anti-terrorism and narcotics on Thursday.
A first information report (FIR) registered at the Margalla Police Station in Islamabad mentioned that Matiullah Jan 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.
The FIR, a copy of which is available with Daily Ausaf, alleged that the accused after stopping the car snatched the gun of the policeman and pointed it at him. It also mentioned that Matiullah was intoxicated at the time, whereas, a bag containing 246 grams of ice was also found in the car.
Earlier, Matiullah Jan, critical of the government’s handling of PTI protests, was apprehended along with fellow journalist Saqib Bashir at 11 pm on Wednesday. While Bashir was eventually released, Jan’s whereabouts remained unclear, his family said in a statement on social media.
Taking on his father’s X account, Jan’s son wrote, “Matiullah Jan has been abducted from the parking of PIMS tonight at around 11 by unmarked abductors in an unmarked vehicle alongside Saqib Bashir (who was let go 5 minutes later).” He demanded immediate release of his father and that his family immediately be informed of his whereabouts.
Matiullah Jan goes missing
Earlier today, several journalists including the veteran Hamid Mir reported that “Matiullah has been detained at Margalla Police Station in Islamabad”, however, later in the day human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari stated that she visited the police station but the journalist was “missing”.
After pleading with police at Margalla Police Station to allow us access to our client Matiullah Jan, we were finally allowed in, Imaan posted on social media site X.
The activist said, “She checked the lock up herself and the people locked up inside confirmed that right before we came, the police took Matiullah Jan. He is missing.”
“Mati is required in the FIR along with KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi, who led the recent PTI protest at D-Chowk,” Hamid Mir claimed, adding that released Saqib Bashir will file a petition in Islamabad High Court (IHC) today.
Separately, another journalist and court reporter Shakir Mehmood Awan was abducted from his house last night by unknown men, including FIA personnel, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed.
“They smashed cameras and confiscated other valuable items of Shakir Awan, including mobile phones,” the party wrote on X.
Hamid Mir also wrote on social media that “Awan has been missing for the last many hours.”
CPJ condemns, demand release
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed grave alarm over the abduction of journalist Matiullah Jan in Islamabad “following his coverage of protests by supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan”.
The organisation demands authorities ensure Jan’s safety and immediate release.
“Journalist Saqib Bashir, who was abducted alongside Jan, has since been released. We call for a swift and impartial investigation into the incident and accountability for all perpetrators,” the statement, issued on X, read.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) demanded the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Matiullah “who has reportedly been arrested following his coverage of the recent protests in Islamabad. ” This authoritarian tactic to silence journalists must cease,” the human rights watchdog statement read.
The Court Journalist Association (CRA), in a press statement, strongly condemned the unlawful arrest of Matiullah Jan and Shakir Mehmood Awan.
The meeting of the Court Journalist Associaton demanded the immediate release of abducted journalists and pleaded Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to take sou moto notice of the abductions.
