Forensic report says no narcotics recovered from journalist Matiullah Jan

ISLAMABAD: In a major development in the narcotics and terrorism case against senior journalist Matiullah Jan, a forensic report submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday stated that the substance allegedly recovered from him was not a prohibited drug.

The case, registered at Margalla Police Station on Nov 28, 2024, accused Jan of snatching a government-issued rifle, ramming a vehicle into a police barrier, and possessing narcotics. The registration of the case had drawn strong criticism from journalist bodies and rights organizations, who alleged that he was being targeted for reporting on alleged deaths during law enforcement action against PTI protesters in November 2024.

Forensic findings presented in court

A division bench comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas heard the matter in a packed courtroom. During proceedings, Islamabad police placed on record a laboratory report prepared by the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA).

According to the forensic analysis, the material allegedly recovered from Jan did not contain methamphetamine, commonly known as "ice."

The courtroom was attended by members of the legal fraternity, journalists, and political workers expressing solidarity with the senior reporter. When former senator Farhatullah Babar was seen in the courtroom, Justice Tahir inquired about his presence. Babar replied that he had come to show support for Jan.

Advocate Rai Hanif Rahi told the bench that lawyers had appeared in solidarity, while journalist Saqib Bashir submitted that the case had been pursued “as if Matiullah Jan were a drug dealer."

The bench observed that the forensic findings carried significant legal implications and questioned whether narcotics-related charges could stand in the absence of a prohibited substance. The judges said an appropriate order would be passed and referred the matter back to the trial court for further proceedings.

A day earlier, an Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) had rejected Jan’s plea challenging its jurisdiction and fixed February 19 for the framing of charges.

‘Allegations proven false’

In a post on X following the hearing, Jan said the accusations of narcotics smuggling against him had been “proven false."

He noted that the PFSA report presented before the court confirmed that the recovered substance was not narcotics or "ice." According to Jan, the IHC bench asked the prosecution how charges could be framed in light of the laboratory findings and directed the state to submit a supplementary charge sheet.

Jan thanked members of his legal team, including Advocate Imaan Mazari and Advocate Hadi, as well as his current counsel, Barrister Abdul Qadeer and others, for standing by him throughout the proceedings.

Background of the case

On Nov 28, 2024, Jan’s son posted on X that his father had been abducted from the parking area of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) by unidentified individuals.

Authorities later confirmed that he had been booked in an FIR alleging possession of 246 grams of methamphetamine after his vehicle was stopped at E-9 in Islamabad. The FIR was registered at 3:20am, nearly an hour after the alleged incident.

Jan was initially sent on a two-day physical remand by an ATC, but the IHC subsequently converted it into judicial custody. He was granted bail on Nov 30, 2024, and released from Adiala Jail.

The FIR invoked Section 9(2)4 of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act 1997, along with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 and multiple provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code, including sections relating to obstruction of a public servant, assault, theft, mischief and criminal intimidation.

With the forensic report now challenging the core narcotics allegation, the case returns to the trial court for further proceedings.