The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday suspended senior journalist Matiullah Jan’s physical remand in a terrorism and narcotics case filed against him at Margalla Police Stations.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir announced the verdict in response to a petition challenging Jan’s two-day physical remand granted by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday.
The development comes a day after the journalist was arrested by the Islamabad Police at the E-9 checkpoint for allegedly assaulting the police, forcibly snatching their weaponry and issuing threats along with being under the influence of drugs with the substance “ice” reportedly recovered from his vehicle as well.
The FIR registered against him includes CrPC’s Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 382 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the theft), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 506 (criminal intimidation) along with 7ATA (terrorism-related section) and a narcotics-related section.
During the hearing today, Jan’s lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Haazir, Hadi Ali Chattha, and IHC Bar Association President Riasat Ali Azad appeared before the court.
Reading out the FIR, Advocate Azad contended that the said document had no mention of buying and selling of the druge “ice”.
