Journalist Matiullah Jan arrested amid protests, sparking outrage over press freedom.

A journalist in Pakistan, investigating violence during a protest march calling for the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has been arrested by Islamabad Police.

Matiullah Jan, a television host and prominent YouTube figure, has been charged with terrorism, drug trafficking, and attacking police officers, according to his lawyer, Imaan Mazari.

“These charges are nothing short of a joke,” Mazari said. “There isn’t an iota of truth in them.”

Jan and Colleague Reportedly 'Abducted'

The arrest follows a mass protest on Tuesday in central Islamabad, where thousands of Khan’s supporters demanded the former leader's release.

Saqib Bashir, Jan’s colleague, stated that the two were at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) gathering information on casualties from the protest when they were apprehended.

Bashir described how men in black uniforms blindfolded them, bundled them into a vehicle, and took them away. A First Information Report (FIR) was later filed against Jan at Islamabad’s Margalla Police Station on Thursday, stating that he was arrested at a checkpoint in the capital.

Geo TV reported that Jan was scheduled to appear before an anti-terrorism court later on Thursday.

Calls for Immediate Release

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed “grave alarm” over Jan’s detention, describing it as an “abduction” and calling for his immediate release.

“Authorities must ensure Jan’s safety and immediate release,” the CPJ demanded in a social media statement.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also condemned the arrest, urging Jan’s unconditional release. They highlighted that he was detained while covering protests in Islamabad.

“This authoritarian tactic to silence journalists must cease,” the HRCP stated firmly.