Entire state responsible for journalist abduction; Islamabad High Court

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday slammed police for the kidnapping of journalist Matiullah Jan, saying that the entire state was responsible for the incident.

The IHC was conducting the hearing of a petition regarding the journalist's abduction. Jan was kidnapped from outside his wife's school and remained missing for about 12 hours before he returned, geotv reported.

"The way a journalist was picked up in broad daylight, have all institutions been destroyed?" asked IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah. "How did anyone, wearing a police uniform, dare to abduct a person?"

The Chief Justice said that chaos would spread throughout the country if the rule of law did not prevail. "Where was Islamabad Police? How could this happen in the federal capital?" wondered the Chief Justice.

"What perception does this send to the common person, that people here are walking about in police uniforms (without fear)?" he stated angrily.

Minallah said that this case pertained to the freedom of speech and the press. He said that crimes against journalists should end now.

"Whatever happened today, the entire state is responsible for it," he said. "The incumbent government also talks about freedom of press. Well, the CCTV footage is available. This is a test case for the police and the federal government," he added. (IANS)

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