On Saturday, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad granted bail to senior journalist Matiullah Jan in a controversial terrorism and narcotics case that rights groups have widely criticized as “fabricated” and politically motivated. Jan, arrested on Wednesday night, was granted bail against surety bonds of Rs10,000.
The case gained attention after Jan’s son alleged his father had been abducted by unidentified individuals from the parking area of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The next day, it emerged that Jan had been booked under multiple charges, including terrorism and possession of narcotics. According to the FIR, filed by Margalla police, Jan’s car was intercepted at a checkpost in E-9, where he allegedly resisted arrest, assaulted a constable, and was found carrying 246 grams of methamphetamine.
Jan was initially remanded to police custody, but the Islamabad High Court (IHC) later ordered his judicial remand, suspending the two-day physical remand granted earlier. On Saturday, Jan was presented before ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, who approved the bail plea filed by Jan’s legal team, including Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, despite the prosecutor’s objections.
The case has sparked significant criticism from human rights groups and media organizations. Amnesty International termed Jan’s detention an attack on freedom of expression, while the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) raised concerns over his safety, linking his arrest to his coverage of protests by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Jan’s release orders are expected to be issued once the bail bonds are submitted. Meanwhile, calls for an independent investigation into the charges against him continue to grow.
