ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: A Pakistani journalist critical of the government and military on Saturday described his release from police custody as a “victory for journalists” after being granted bail in a terrorism and narcotics case, which his legal team called fake and fabricated.
Matiullah Jan, a broadcaster working with Neo TV, was “picked up” from outside a hospital in Islamabad on Wednesday, where he was investigating alleged fatalities during recent protests in support of jailed ex-premier Imran Khan, according to his son.
The police report registered against him included Code of Criminal Procedure’s Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty), 382 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the theft), 427 (mischief causing damage), 506 (criminal intimidation) along with 7ATA (terrorism-related section) and a narcotics-related section.
On Saturday, Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, who presided over the hearing of Jan’s bail petition, approved the plea against surety bonds worth Rs10,000 ($36), according to his lawyer.
“I consider this case, in which I have been granted bail and released, to be a significant victory for journalists, especially in circumstances where politicians, the judiciary and all other stakeholders are under immense pressure,” Jan told Arab News in a brief voice note after his release.
He also praised his legal team for working tirelessly and fighting his case in different courts.
Earlier, Jan’s counsel, Hadi Ali, told reporters outside the court the judge had granted bail after listening to arguments from both the prosecutor and the defense.
Jan has a history of criticizing Pakistan’s government and the country’s powerful military establishment. He was also briefly detained by uniformed men during Imran Khan’s tenure in 2020.
Successive Pakistan governments have often been criticized by rights monitors for using broad anti-terrorism legislation to quash dissent.
Islamabad witnessed a protest march by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters, who faced a major government crackdown in which nearly a thousand political activists were arrested during three days of unrest this week.
Jan was investigating the aftermath of the crackdown on PTI workers when, according to his family, he was taken away by people in unmarked vehicles hours before the police announced his arrest.
Amnesty International has criticized Pakistani security forces for using “unlawful and excessive force” on crowds, but Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told reporters on Wednesday that the PTI was “lying” about it, as its leaders claimed their followers had been killed.
Khan’s party has so far named 12 people, claiming it has evidence they lost their lives during the crackdown in the federal capital and demanding the judiciary take notice and hold top government ministers accountable.
Pakistani journalist critical of government calls release in terrorism case victory for media
https://arab.news/4uak8
Pakistani journalist critical of government calls release in terrorism case victory for media
- Matiullah Jan was investigating alleged fatalities during PTI protests when his family said he had been ‘picked up’
- An Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad granted him bail after looking into the allegations filed against him by police
Pakistan’s PPL says Türkiye partnership opens ‘new chapter’ in offshore oil and gas exploration
- Indus Block C work program valued at $3.45 million, seen as Pakistan’s most ambitious offshore drilling test in collaboration with Türkish state company
- Pakistan has drilled offshore since the 1960s, including wells like Pak Can-1, Pasni-X2, Kekra-1 but none produced commercially viable volumes
ISLAMABAD: The chief executive of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) said on Thursday a new exploration partnership with Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company (TPOC) could accelerate Pakistan’s search for offshore oil and gas, describing the venture as a potential turning point for long-stalled development of the sector.
The agreement, signed in Islamabad this week, includes three offshore and two onshore concessions, the most prominent being Eastern Offshore Indus Block C, where TPOC, the overseas arm of Türkiye’s state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), will operate with a 25 percent stake. PPL holds 35 percent, while state-owned Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Mari Energies each retain 20 percent.
The block carries a minimum work commitment of $3.45 million, and is being positioned as Pakistan’s first serious offshore drilling attempt under the Pakistan–Türkiye energy collaboration.
Speaking to Arab News, PPL Managing Director Sikandar Ali Memon said TPAO brings scale, deep-sea rigs and technical capacity that local firms lack.
“Their coming down here, working with us, will not only develop the offshore prospects, but also the service industry and other related businesses,” Memon said. “I would say this is the beginning of a wonderful chapter that we are looking forward to.”
TPOC will also join Pakistan’s offshore Deep F block as a non-operating partner, where Mari Energies leads the venture with Fatima Petroleum as co-partner.
Pakistan has drilled offshore intermittently since the 1960s, including high-profile wells such as Pak Can-1 (1985), Pasni-X2 (2005), and Kekra-1 in 2019, once touted as the country’s deepest attempt, but none yielded commercial-scale results. Discoveries that did materialize produced volumes too small to economically develop.
Officials say failures were driven by cost, limited technology and uncertain policy environments, though each attempt improved basin modelling and seismic understanding.
Memon said the new Indus Block C prospect benefits from advanced 3D seismic mapping, independent technical validation and an upgraded global technology landscape.
Drilling of the first well is unlikely before early 2027, he added, though the joint venture hopes to accelerate timelines.
Pakistan is seeking foreign capital to reduce reliance on imported fuels, expand domestic reserves and support a strained energy system facing rising demand and falling onshore outputs. Offshore blocks are being offered through new bidding rounds in a push to attract experienced operators.
“This is one of the best prospects,” Memon said, adding that previous technology limitations had held back Pakistan’s offshore potential. “They [TPAO] found that this is the prospect they want to come and join in.”
The officer said PPL intends to pursue further deepwater exploration while improving production from existing onshore fields.
“In the last one-and-a-half years, we have added about 40-plus million units of hydrocarbons to the economy,” Memon said. “We’ll continue optimizing today’s wells while exploring tomorrow’s reserves.”
