Senior journalist Matiullah Jan arrested in Pakistan, CRPC, Anti-Terrorism & Narcotics Control Act imposed

Matiullah Jan, famous Pakistani journalist who was investigating claims of casualties in a protest march held in Pakistan demanding the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, was arrested. He has been charged under various sections of the CrPC, Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) as well as the Narcotics Control Act.

Journalist Matiullah Jan hosts a TV show in Pakistan. He is considered a strong critic of the heavy influence of the army in Pakistani politics. Just hours before his arrest, he hosted a show on TV in which he read hospital records that contradict the government's denial that bullets were used by security forces while dispersing the protest or that any protesters were killed.

Matiullah Jan's colleague Saqib Bashir was also picked up. Saqib said that both of them were picked up by people wearing black uniforms from the parking lot of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. They were blindfolded and put in a car. Saqib Bashir says that they were collecting data about the casualties. However, Bashir was left on a road three hours later.

Journalist Matiullah Jan's son Abd-u-Razzaq has made a video demanding the authorities to release his father. In the entire case, Jan's lawyer Iman Mazari said that he has been accused of terrorism, drug trafficking and attacking the police. There is no truth in these allegations at all.

#WATCH: “This is all fake. We are not afraid. We will keep our work going.”

Pakistan journalist Matiullah Jan, critical of the government and military, has been booked in a terrorism and narcotics case. https://t.co/0qbxumulos pic.twitter.com/6INhSWHZaT

— Arab News Pakistan (@arabnewspk) November 28, 2024

Bashir, an associate of journalist Matiullah Jan, said that Jan's family was allowed to meet him in the police lock-up on Thursday morning. In his TV report, journalist Jan has cast doubt on the claim that some security personnel died after being crushed by a vehicle in the convoy of protesters.

It is noteworthy that supporters of Imran's party PTI demonstrated in Islamabad on Sunday. PTI supporters were demanding the release of their leader. During this, four security personnel were killed. After this demonstration, PTI had claimed that hundreds of protesters were shot and 8 to 40 people were killed.