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 Navy tests surface-to-air missile in Arabian Sea, reaffirms defense resolve
- The test follows a brief conflict with India that involved missile, artillery and drone exchanges but no naval clashes
- Pakistan has stepped up battle readiness more recently, with senior commanders overseeing major training exercises
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy reaffirmed its resolve to defend the country’s territorial waters on Monday after conducting a live firing test of a surface-to-air missile in the northern Arabian Sea, according to a military statement.
The missile test involved the FM-90(N) ER, a medium-range naval air-defense system designed to intercept aerial threats, and comes months after a brief but intense military conflict between Pakistan and India in which the nuclear-armed neighbors exchanged missile and artillery fire and deployed drones and fighter jets.
While the four-day confrontation did not escalate into a naval clash, the Pakistan Navy remained on high alert until a US-brokered ceasefire brought the fighting to an end.
“Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a Live Weapon Firing (LWF) of the FM-90(N) ER Surface-to-Air Missile in the North Arabian Sea,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“During the firepower demonstration, a Pakistan Navy ship effectively engaged highly manoeuvrable aerial targets, reaffirming the Navy’s war-fighting capability and combat readiness,” it added. “Commander Pakistan Fleet witnessed the live firing at sea onboard a Pakistan Navy Fleet unit.”
ISPR said the fleet commander commended officers and sailors involved in the exercise for their professionalism and operational competence, and reiterated the navy’s resolve to safeguard Pakistan’s maritime interests under all circumstances.
Pakistan has placed greater emphasis on battle readiness in recent months.
Last week, Chief of Defense Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir visited frontline garrisons of Gujranwala and Sialkot to observe a field training exercise involving tanks and drones, where he highlighted the importance of technological adaptability, saying modern warfare required agility, precision, situational awareness and rapid decision-making.
