Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court restrained an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) from framing charges against senior journalist Mattiullah Jan, and directed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to decide his appeal expeditiously. A three-member bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, on Thursday heard the petition of Mattiullah to set aside the IHC’s Feb 23 order denying ad-interim relief to stay proceedings before the ATC. Barrister Qadeer Janjua, appearing on behalf of the journalist, raised questions about the trial court’s jurisdiction and the applicability of terrorism charges against him. During the hearing, Justice Mazhar remarked that until the Islamabad High Court decides the matter, the trial court cannot proceed with framing charges against the journalist. The prosecution did not object to the issuance of directions to the high court, while the apex court observed that it would not go into the merits of the case at this stage so as not to prejudice it in favour of either party. The deputy prosecutor informed the bench that they had no reservations in this regard. Mattiullah Jan was arrested on Nov 28, 2024, at a police checkpoint in Sector E-9, Islamabad. The journalist contended that the high court, by merely issuing notices and not staying the proceedings, failed to protect the petitioner’s rights, thereby committing an error apparent on the face of the record. It added that the high court erroneously failed to exercise its discretion to grant ad-interim relief, despite a prima facie case, the balance of convenience favouring the journalist, and the risk of irreparable loss. He prayed the apex court to direct the IHC to decide the matter pending before it, and in the meantime, trial court proceedings should remain suspended. He informed the Court that the High Court fixed April 21 as the next date for hearing of the appeal, regarding whether the accused could be charged with terrorism for the alleged scuffles with police, an incident which Mattiullah Jan even otherwise described as concocted and fake. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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