ATC Reserves Verdict in Matiullah Jan Drug Case

APP

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday quashed the contempt of court convictions of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad and SSP Operations, overturning a previous single-bench verdict.

A two-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Sardar Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, set aside the decision of Justice Babar Sattar, who had convicted the officers for issuing three Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) notifications despite a stay order from the court.

Justice Sattar had sentenced District Magistrate Irfan Nawaz Memon to six months in prison, SSP Operations Malik Jamil Zafar to four months, and the SHO to two months. The officers were found guilty of contempt of court for violating the judicial stay order.

In a separate development, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday reserved its verdict in the drugs and terrorism case against senior journalist Matiullah Jan after hearing arguments from both sides.

Barrister Mian Ali Ashfaq requested that the drug charges against Matiullah Jan be dropped, while the public prosecutor opposed the request.

The journalist was accused of possessing 100 to 500 grams of ice under Section 9(2)4 of the Anti-Narcotics Control Act and facing charges under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

Police had attempted to arrest Jan on November 26, 2024, in Sector E-9, Islamabad. He allegedly resisted arrest, rammed his vehicle into a checkpoint, and snatched an official weapon.

Initially handed over on physical remand, the Islamabad High Court nullified this decision and sent him on judicial remand, after which lawyers Iman Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha secured his post-arrest bail.