Islamabad (TDI): In a major breakthrough, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday suspended the physical remand of senior journalist Matiullah Jan in an anti-terrorism and anti-narcotics case.
The cases were filed against him at the Margalla Police Station in the federal capital.
The verdict of suspension of the remand was announced by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir.
The verdict came after hearing a petition challenging Jan’s two-day physical remand granted by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) a day earlier.
Jan was taken into custody 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, Geo News reported.
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The FIR registered against him under 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, the report added.
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Journalist lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Haazir, Hadi Ali Chattha, and IHC Bar Association President Riasat Ali Azad appeared before the court appeared in the court for plea.
Advocate Azad pointed out that the said document had no mention of buying and selling of “ice”.
The plea was accepted and he is now considered on judicial remand.
