ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday suspended the two-day physical remand of Journalist Mattiullah Jan in a case related to terrorism and use of drugs.
A IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir passed the order.
Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) President Riasat Ali Azad, Advocate Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha appeared before the court.
Riasat Ali Azad read out the FIR registered against the journalist and said that there was no mention of Ice in it.
The IHC suspended the physical remand of Mattiullah Jan and observed that it should be considered as judicial.
Earlier in the day, the two-day physical remand of journalist Mattiullah Jan, granted by the Anti-Terrorism Court, was challenged in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Advocate Imaan Mazari filed a petition against Matiullah Jan’s physical remand, stating that Matiullah Jan was arrested in a false and fabricated case.
The Islamabad High Court Bar Association also condemned arrest of journalist Matiullah Jan and the FIR, calling the case absurd and a bundle of lies.
The association stated that the arrest of Matiullah Jan is an attack on press freedom and demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter. They further called for the immediate dismissal of the case and the release of Matiullah Jan.
Journalist Matiullah Jan was arrested at the E-9 checkpoint in Islamabad and transferred to the Margalla Police Station.
According to the registered FIR, Matiullah Jan’s vehicle was signaled to stop at an Islamabad checkpoint on the night of November 28. However, the vehicle hit and injured Constable Mudassir, who was on duty.
When the vehicle stopped, Matiullah Jan allegedly snatched the weapon from the police constable and threatened him while the accused was reportedly under the influence of drugs.
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) had approved a two-day physical remand for Matiullah Jan in a case related to the alleged recovery of ice (a type of drug).
Matiullah Jan was arrested by Islamabad police on Nov 28.
