Several journalists and human rights advocates expressed concern on Thursday after reports surfaced that senior journalist Matiullah Jan had been arrested in connection with the recent PTI protest in Islamabad.
Arifa Noor, a senior anchor, shared on social media that she had spoken to journalist Asad Toor, who claimed Jan was booked in a case involving PTI leadership and others related to the November 24 rally. Initially, Noor stated that Jan was detained at Islamabad’s Margalla Police Station. However, human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir later clarified in a post that after visiting the station, Jan was reported missing.
Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir wrote on social media that she and others had pleaded with the police for access to Jan. After being allowed into the police station, the lawyer inspected the lock-up and was told by detainees that Jan had been taken just before her arrival.
A post on Matiullah Jan’s social media account at 5:09 a.m. claimed that the journalist had been abducted by unmarked men in an unmarked vehicle while parked at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) around 11 p.m. The post also mentioned that journalist Saqib Bashir was briefly abducted but released shortly thereafter. The post further emphasized that the abduction occurred after Jan’s coverage of the Islamabad protests.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) raised serious concerns about the reported abduction, linking it to Jan’s reporting on the protests by supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The CPJ called for Jan’s immediate release, urging authorities to ensure his safety and accountability for those involved in the incident.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also demanded Jan’s “immediate and unconditional release,” asserting that he was arrested in relation to his coverage of the protests. The HRCP condemned the government’s tactics to silence journalists, urging an end to such actions.
Digital rights advocate Usama Khilji denounced Jan’s abduction, claiming it was a result of his investigation into the deaths of civilians during the PTI protest. He reiterated that “journalism is not a crime” and called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to secure Jan’s release. Khilji also questioned how a journalist could be charged for simply reporting on a protest, calling the case “bogus.”
