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February 19, 2026 – Pakistan –
Senior Pakistani journalist Matiullah Jan is confronting formal terrorism and narcotics charges in an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad, in a high-profile legal case that has drawn sustained attention from media rights advocates and legal observers. On February 18, 2026, an ATC judge rejected Jan’s challenge to the court’s jurisdiction and ordered that terrorism and related charges be formally framed against him, advancing proceedings in a controversial case critics denounce as politically motivated.
The case dates back to November 28, 2024, when the Margalla Police Station registered a First Information Report (FIR) alleging that Jan’s vehicle rammed into a police barrier at an Islamabad checkpoint, injured a constable, and that Jan assaulted the officer before briefly seizing his rifle. The FIR also claimed that approximately 246 grams of a controlled substance — later identified as not containing methamphetamine in a recent forensic report — was found in his car. Charges include terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, narcotics possession under the Control of Narcotic Substances Act 1997, and several provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code covering assault, mischief, and related offences.
Jan’s defence challenged the ATC’s jurisdiction and the sufficiency of evidence, particularly the absence of video proof of narcotics recovery, but the court dismissed the plea and set a hearing date to frame formal charges. Jan publicly condemned the proceedings on the social media platform X, describing the case as a “fabricated” attack on journalists and asserting that he and colleague Saqib Bashir were taken from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) parking area by unidentified individuals before the FIR was lodged.
A forensic analysis submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has already found that the substance allegedly recovered from Jan did not contain prohibited drugs, a development that could have legal implications as proceedings continue. Jan and rights groups have emphasised this finding, arguing it undermines key elements of the prosecution’s case.
Human rights advocates and media organisations have criticised the use of terrorism and narcotics statutes in this context, warning that leveraging such laws against a prominent journalist sets a chilling precedent for press freedom in Pakistan. They argue that cases like Jan’s are part of a broader pattern of legal pressures aimed at silencing critical reporting, especially when covering sensitive political events or security-related issues.
As the case moves toward formal indictment, Jan remains free on bail in related matters, and his legal team is contesting aspects of the proceedings in higher courts. Observers say the outcome will be closely watched as an indicator of the legal environment for independent journalism and due process protections in Pakistan.
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