Prominent Journalist Matiullah Jan Arrested in Islamabad

Islamabad police arrested senior journalist Matiullah Jan on Thursday, registering a case against him at the Margalla police station.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the incident began when the vehicle Matiullah was in allegedly ignored police signals to stop. The FIR claims the driver accelerated the vehicle toward the personnel, endangering their lives. The vehicle was eventually halted after police threw a barrier onto its path.

The FIR further accuses Matiullah Jan of being under the influence of drugs, with “ice” reportedly recovered from the vehicle’s seat. Charges filed against him include attempted murder and other serious offenses.

This is not the first time Matiullah Jan has been at the center of controversy. In 2020, he was allegedly abducted in broad daylight from Sector G-6 in Islamabad by unidentified individuals. His abduction sparked widespread outrage from press freedom advocates and civil society. After being held for nearly 12 hours, he was released near Fateh Jang town in Punjab.

Matiullah Jan is a prominent figure in Pakistan’s media landscape and has often been vocal on sensitive issues. His arrest is likely to reignite concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in the country. Further details on the case and his legal status are awaited.