Top Journalists, Rights Activists Condemn 'Fabricated' Drug Case Against Matiullah Jan; Demand Immediate Quashment
Chehra WebDesk
Islamabad
The Digital Media Alliance of Pakistan (DigiMAP), joined by a coalition of veteran journalists and human rights activists, has vehemently condemned the "fabricated and concocted" drug trafficking case registered against senior investigative journalist Matiullah Jan, demanding its immediate quashment.
In a joint statement, the signatories described the case as a clear attempt to silence one of Pakistan’s most courageous journalistic voices, linking the charges to his abduction and illegal detention on November 28, 2024, from PIMS Hospital, Islamabad. They highlighted that Jan was investigating police firing on PTI protesters when he was abducted.
Key Concerns:
* The activists cited the unusual speed of the First Information Report (FIR)—filed at 2:30 a.m. just hours after the 11:30 p.m. abduction—as evidence that the case is politically motivated.
* They noted that the abductors neither made demands nor seized his data, suggesting the motive was purely to intimidate and obstruct his journalistic work.
Sabookh Syed, President of DigiMAP, called the fabricated charges "a direct assault on media freedom." He urged the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, and the Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court to take immediate notice and ensure the safety and independence of journalists.
Signatories included prominent figures such as Hussain Naqi, Zahid Hussain, Farhatullah Babar, Mazhar Abbas, Munizae Jahangir, and Dr. Tauseef Ahmed Khan.
