The Islamabad High Court has lambasted the police for the abduction of journalist Matiullah Jan, saying that the 'entire state' was responsible for the incident.
Jan was kidnapped from Islamabad's G-6 Sector on Tuesday by armed men in police uniforms. After an outcry by journalist bodies, activists, and politicians, he was released 12 hours later in the outskirts of Islamabad.
During the hearing of petition pertaining to the recovery of Jan, the IHC said this was the failure of the state that a journalist was picked up from the federal capital in the broad daylight. "How did anyone, wearing a police uniform, dare to abduct a person?"
The IHC 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 of the High Court.
"What perception does this send to the common person, that people here are walking about in police uniforms [without fear]?" he stated angrily.
Justice Minallah said that this was a test case for the police and the federal government as the people who kidnapped Matiullah were in police uniforms. He added that police must take measures so that such incidents do not happen again.
The chief justice said that this case pertained to the freedom of speech and the press. He said that crimes against journalists should end now.
Advocate Jahangir Jadoon, who filed the petition for the journalist's recovery, said that the case should not be wrapped up and the court should ask for progress reports regarding the incident. "Direct the police to investigate and tell the court who is responsible for this incident," he said.
The IHC chief justice responded: "We will have to place trust in the police and the state. Let them take action in accordance with the law."
Jan was kidnapped from Islamabad's G-6 Sector on Tuesday by armed men in police uniforms. After an outcry by journalist bodies, activists, and politicians, he was released 12 hours later in the outskirts of Islamabad.
During the hearing of petition pertaining to the recovery of Jan, the IHC said this was the failure of the state that a journalist was picked up from the federal capital in the broad daylight. "How did anyone, wearing a police uniform, dare to abduct a person?"
The IHC 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 of the High Court.
"What perception does this send to the common person, that people here are walking about in police uniforms [without fear]?" he stated angrily.
Justice Minallah said that this was a test case for the police and the federal government as the people who kidnapped Matiullah were in police uniforms. He added that police must take measures so that such incidents do not happen again.
The chief justice said that this case pertained to the freedom of speech and the press. He said that crimes against journalists should end now.
Advocate Jahangir Jadoon, who filed the petition for the journalist's recovery, said that the case should not be wrapped up and the court should ask for progress reports regarding the incident. "Direct the police to investigate and tell the court who is responsible for this incident," he said.
The IHC chief justice responded: "We will have to place trust in the police and the state. Let them take action in accordance with the law."