Drug & weapon case: ATC postpones hearing on journalist’s acquittal plea

ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday postponed hearing on a journalist’s acquittal plea in an alleged drug and weapon case due to the absence of the defence counsel.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra was scheduled to hear arguments on the plea moved by journalist Matiullah Jan. However, the proceedings could not take place after the defence lawyer failed to appear. The court adjourned the hearing until December 13 and instructed both sides to present their arguments on the next date.

The case was registered at Margalla Police Station on November 28, last year. According to the FIR, Jan was stopped at a police checkpoint in Sector E-9, where he allegedly resisted, rammed his vehicle into a barrier, and snatched a government-issued rifle before being overpowered by police. He is also accused of possessing narcotics.

The FIR invokes Section 9(2)4 of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act (CNSA) for possessing 100 to 500 grams of crystal meth and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) for acts of terrorism.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025