A senior journalist, Matiullah Jan, was granted bail by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Saturday in a case involving terrorism and narcotics.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra approved the bail against a bond of Rs10,000. This decision came two days after Jan’s arrest by Islamabad Police at an E-9 checkpoint. He was accused of assaulting police officers, forcibly taking their weapons, issuing threats, and being under the influence of drugs. The police reportedly found the drug "ice" in his vehicle.
Jan was charged under several sections of the law, including rash driving, assaulting public servants, theft, mischief, criminal intimidation, and terrorism-related offenses. A narcotics charge was also included in the FIR.
Initially, Jan was placed under a two-day physical remand, but on Friday, the Islamabad High Court suspended this remand, ruling in favor of the journalist.
Jan's arrest sparked widespread criticism from media groups, human rights organizations, and even members of the current government. The case has drawn significant attention due to the serious nature of the charges and the involvement of media and political groups in expressing concern over the incident.