Pakistani journalist Matiullah Jan was reportedly abducted by unidentified men outside the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), according to his family.
Rights activists and TV host Hamid Mir have confirmed the abduction, which took place on the night of November 26, alongside fellow journalist Saqib Bashir.
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Jan’s family is preparing to file a petition with the Islamabad High Court for his release. The abduction occurred amid rising political tensions, particularly after Jan shared a video of a Rangers official being struck by a vehicle. While Jan initially suggested the officer was hit by his own vehicle, it was later clarified that the officer was run over by a speeding car driven by protesters.
Reports also suggest that PIMS hospital staff was pressured not to report injuries or fatalities from a late-night operation against PTI protesters.
The kidnapping has raised serious concerns over press freedom and the safety of journalists in Pakistan, a country notorious for its hostility toward media workers, with widespread violence and impunity for perpetrators.