Alleged kidnapping of Matiullah: SC expresses dissatisfaction over police report

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over the Islamabad police report regarding alleged kidnapping of senior journalist Matiullah Jan.

Matiullah Jan was reportedly abducted by men in plainclothes and in uniforms of anti-terrorism police on a Tuesday morning from Islamabad’s Sector G-6/1-3, but was found near Fateh Jang Road the same day late at night, and returned home safely.

A video purported to be of the kidnapping had sparked an outcry on social media.

A three-member judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heard the suo moto pertaining to the alleged contemptuous tweet by Matiullah Jan.

“We don’t find this report satisfactory,” said the chief justice.

“We have examined the police report and declared it unsatisfactory. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Islamabad still could not decide how to investigate the case and up till now there is no clue about the kidnappers.”

The IGP, Islamabad should ask a competent police official or committee of police officers to take over the investigation and probe the matter and file a report with the relevant forum under CrPC provisions.

“For this purpose we allow the IGP, Islamabad one month.”

The bench said they could take up the contempt matter, against the senior journalist later on.

Matiullah Jan’s brother Shahid Abbasi on July 21, 2020 had lodged an FIR in Police Station, Aabpara, Islamabad, that Matiullah was kidnapped by unknown persons, but was released late at the night the same day (July 21).

During proceedings of last hearing, the apex court had expressed complete dissatisfaction over the Islamabad Police’s handling of Jan’s abduction case.

“Time is of the essence in an investigation of a criminal case as evidence disappears with each passing day,” the bench had observed.

The CJP wondered as to why the investigating officer did not visit relevant

departments to gather information.

The court directed the Islamabad inspector-general of police to supervise the investigation and submit a final report.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020