A Pakistani journalist investigating claims of casualties in a protest march demanding the release of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan, has been charged with terrorism.
Who Is This Journalist?
Television host Matiullah Jan is known as a critic of the military’s heavy influence in Pakistani politics.
Jan had also been abducted for around 12 hours during Khan’s rule in 2020.
Journalist Body Demands Jan’s Immediate Release
The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed “grave alarm”
over Jan’s “abduction” and demanded his immediate release.
What Does His Lawyer Have To Say?
Matiullah’s lawyer Imaan Mazari said that Jan was charged
with terrorism, drug peddling and attacking police.
“It is no less than a joke,” she said.
“There is not an iota of truth in these charges.”
Jan Was Picked Up Within Hours Of Doing A Show
Hours before being picked off the street in Islamabad, Jan had done a TV show.
In this show, he read from what he said were hospital records contradicting the government’s denial that live ammunition had been used when security forces dispersed the protest, or that any protesters had been killed.
His Colleague Was Also Picked Up
Jan’s colleague Saqib Bashir said on Thursday that they were picked up by men wearing black uniforms from the car park of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
They were blindfolded and bundled into a car, he said, adding: “We were collecting data on the casualties.”
Bashir was dropped off in a street three hours later.
What Did His Family Say?
Jan’s son Abd-u-Razaq confirmed the account in a video statement, demanding authorities release his father.
Bashir said Jan’s family was given access to him at a police lock-up on Thursday morning.
No Comment From Islamabad Police Or The Information Ministry
Neither Islamabad police nor the Information Ministry responded to a request for a comment.
What Did Jan Say?
Jan had also cast doubt on official assertions that some security personnel had died after being run over by a vehicle in the protesters’ convoy.
Casualties In The Protest March
Thousands of supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had over the weekend stormed Islamabad.
The government said they had killed four security officers.
The PTI said hundreds of protesters had been shot, and
between eight and 40 killed.
