Last week, the SC had issued notice to the senior journalist and asked him to appear before the bench on July 22 to explain his 'contemptuous' tweets pertaining to the verdict in the Justice Isa case.
At the outset of the hearing, Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed asked the attorney general about the abduction of Jan. To which, the AG said that the journalist had returned last night after brief abduction.
CJP Gulzar also questioned why haven’t the police recorded the statement of Jan and summoned the Islamabad police chief on the next hearing. “What are the institutions doing?” he asked the attorney general.
While reading the FIR filed by the brother of the journalist, the chief justice said what was the link between the abduction of Jan and the suo motu case. The AG said that the report was filed by Jan's brother. At this, Matiullah Jan tried to answer the judge's question, but he was told to speak that he could speak about the contemptuous tweets only.
In a question to Matiullah Jan, the chief justice sought reply of the contempt notice. Jan answered that he was abducted so he wasn't able to prepare the reply and needed time to hire a counsel.
The senior journalist requested the court that he be provided with a transparent trial. Chief Justice Gulzar responded that the judiciary believed in rule of law and that the journalist would be provided with a fair trial at all costs. He added that the courts believe in media freedom, but they will also not compromise on the dignity of the judiciary.
Furthermore, the senior journalist told the court that he was abducted because of the said case. On this, the bench asked to add the details of his abduction and its link to the current trial in his response to the contempt notice.