Veteran Journalists and Human Rights Activists Condemn Fabricated Case Against Matiullah Jan, DigiMAP Calls for Immediate Quashment of False FIR

Islamabad, The Digital Media Alliance of Pakistan (DigiMAP), along with veteran journalists and human rights activists, has strongly condemned the fabricated and concocted case of drug trafficking registered against senior investigative journalist Matiullah Jan, calling for its immediate withdrawal.

In a joint statement, senior journalists and activists described the case as a deliberate attempt to silence one of Pakistan’s most courageous voices in journalism. They noted that Matiullah Jan’s abduction on November 28, 2024, from the parking area of PIMS Hospital, Islamabad, and his subsequent illegal detention were clear examples of intimidation tactics aimed at suppressing press freedom and obstructing investigative reporting.

“We are deeply concerned that even after nearly a year, the Islamabad police remain adamant in pursuing this baseless case instead of upholding press freedom,” the statement said. “The charges are entirely fabricated and must be quashed without delay.”

The signatories included Hussain Naqi, Zahid Hussain, Farhatullah Babar, Mustansar Javaid, Anwar Iqbal, Ali Ahmad Khan, Mazhar Abbas, Amir Wasim, Sabookh Syed, Dr Nazir Mahmood, Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan, Nasir Zaidi, Asmatullah Niazi, Shahzada Zulfiqar, Munizae Jahangir, Sohail Sangi, Nasir Malik, Adnan Rehmat, Iqbal Khattak, G.N. Mughal, Waris Raza, Habib Khan Ghori, Fouzia Shahid, Lala Asad, Lala Rehman, Saleem Shahid, Ayub Jan Sarhandi, Shafiq Awan, Abdul Sattar, Mohammad Riaz, Azaz Syed, Ayub Malik, and Dr Shafqat Munir.

The statement further highlighted that Jan was investigating police firing on PTI protesters near D-Chowk, Islamabad, on November 24, 2024, when he was abducted. The FIR filed at 2:30 a.m., merely hours after his abduction at 11:30 p.m., raises serious questions about the credibility of the case and the motives behind it.

“The fact that the FIR was registered with such unusual speed—something rarely seen in police procedures—only reinforces the suspicion that this case is politically motivated and intended to silence critical journalism,” the statement added.

It was also noted that Jan’s abductors neither made any demands nor seized his data or investigative notes, indicating that the entire episode was designed purely to intimidate and obstruct his journalistic work.

“We call upon the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, and the Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court to take urgent notice of this matter and direct the immediate quashment of the false FIR. Journalists must be allowed to work without fear, pressure, or persecution.”

He added, “The safety of journalists is not merely a professional concern; it is a test of our collective commitment to democracy, accountability, and the public’s right to know.”

DigiMAP reiterates its unwavering support for press freedom and demands that the government ensure the safety, dignity, and independence of all journalists in Pakistan.