ATC grants bail to senior journalist Matiullah Jan

ISLAMABAD: Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday granted bail to Senior journalist Matiullah Jan, ARY News reported.

As per details, the Anti-Terrorism Court judge Tahir Abbas Sipra approved the bail plea against surety bonds worth Rs 10,000 each and ordered authorities to release Matiullah.

Earlier, Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the two-day physical remand of Matiullah Jan.

As per details, Chief Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued the orders and directed authorities to consider the senior journalist in judicial custody.

Prior to this, Matiullah’s physical remand was challenged in Islamabad High Court (IHC).

As per details, the plea was filed by Matiullah’s counsel Imaan Mazari, challenging the Anti-Terrorism Court judge Tahir Abbas Sipra verdict.

Yesterday, senior journalist Matiullah Jan was sent on a two-day physical remand in a case registered in Margalla police station

As per details, the Anti-Terrorism Court judge Tahir Abbas Sipra announced the reserved verdict where the police sought a 30-day physical remand however the court approved two-day physical remand of Matiulllah.

Also read: Senior journalist Matiullah Jan arrested in Islamabad

It’s worth mentioning that Matiullah Jan, a prominent Pakistani journalist, was arrested in Islamabad and a case was registered against him at the Margalla police station.

According to the FIR, the driver allegedly attempted to run over personnel who signaled him to stop the vehicle. The driver reportedly intentionally accelerated the vehicle towards the personnel, putting their lives at risk.

However, they managed to stop the vehicle by throwing a barrier down on the route.

Matiullah Jan has been named in the case, the FIR also mentioned that he was found to be on drugs as ice was recovered from the vehicle’s seat.

The case includes charges of attempted murder and other serious offenses.

PFUJ

Reacting to Matiullah’s arrest, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) demanded immediate release of the senior journalist and warned of countrywide protest if demand not met.

According to PFUJ’s official statement, the arrest of Matiullah Jan is concerning in the light of his previous arrest in 2020. The union urged unbiased and transparent investigation of the incident as illegal arrest of journalist will not be tolerated in any civilized society.

It’s worth mentioning here that in 2020, the Matiullah Jan was allegedly abducted by an unidentified group of men from Sector G-6 of Islamabad in broad daylight. The abductors fled to an unknown location after kidnapping the journalist.

Later, unidentified kidnappers released senior journalist Matiullah Jan after around 12 hours and left him at a location near Fateh Jang town.

Sources said that he departed for his home with his brother after getting released by the abductors who left him near Fateh Jang, a small town located in Punjab province.