IHC suspends physical remand of journalist Matiullah Jan

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday suspended the two-day physical remand of senior journalist Matiullah Jan.

According to Jan’s lawyer, Imaan Mazari, an application will be filed later today for his release on bail. 

Earlier, Jan, who was implicated in a terrorism case under various charges, was remanded into tw0day custody by an anti-terrorism court.

The physical remand was challenged in the IHC. 

In a video message, Mazari said that her legal team had filed a petition to overturn the remand and requested the high vourt to hear the case on an urgent basis.

She warned that delays in the hearing could render the petition ineffective, particularly if it was postponed until Monday. 

Mazari expressed confidence that the court would act promptly. “We hope our petition will be accepted and scheduled for a hearing today,” she said. 

The journalist’s case gained widespread attention after reports of his disappearance surfaced late Wednesday and Thursday night.

Authorities subsequently disclosed his arrest the next day as he was detained at Islamabad’s Margalla Police Station. 

On Thursday, Jan was presented before an anti-terrorism court, which approved a two-day physical remand and directed authorities to produce him again on November 30.  

Matiullah Jan Denies Charges

Speaking to the media during his court appearance, Jan rejected the allegations, stating, “I don’t even smoke, yet they’ve fabricated a false case against me.”

He vowed to continue his journalistic work despite the charges. “Such actions destroy the credibility of institutions,” he said. 

Details of the Case Against Jan 

The FIR filed against Jan accuses him of attempting to run over a police patrol, driving under the influence, possessing narcotics, and pointing a firearm at law enforcement officers.

These charges, filed under terrorism-related provisions, have raised questions about the severity and credibility of the allegations.