Journalist Matiullah Jan, who was arrested under anti-terror laws for investigating alleged deaths in protests supporting jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan, was released on bail Saturday, his lawyer said.

This week more than 10,000 marchers flooded Islamabad, defying a ban on public gatherings before being evicted in a sweeping security crackdown.

TV presenter and YouTube journalist Matiullah Jan had been held since late Wednesday when he was probing reports of deaths among the marchers at Islamabad’s PIMS Hospital, his lawyer Imaan Mazari said.

He appeared before a specialist anti-terrorism court in the capital the following day, accused of drug possession and the attempted murder of an on-duty policeman whilst under the influence.

Media rights groups decried his detention as a government bid to suppress the freedom of the press.

Jan was released around 6pm after “his bail was allowed”, Mazari told AFP. “We know there’s a lot of anger from the establishment for his reporting,” she added.

The government said at least five security personnel were killed in this week’s unrest, whilst Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf allege at least 12 of their own were killed in firing.

Government ministers have repeatedly denied the allegations.

“There was not one drop of blood and they are calling it a massacre,” Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told reporters on Saturday.

Jan was also briefly detained by uniformed men in 2020, in the middle of Khan’s four-year tenure.

Court grants bail

Senior journalist Matiullah Jan has been granted bail by an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad, following his arrest in a drug-related incident.

The bail was set at Rs10,000, as Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra presided over the hearing.

During the proceedings, Jan’s lawyer sought urgent consideration of the bail application, while the court allowed the prosecution time to prepare its case.

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The judge expressed concerns regarding the integrity of journalism, criticising the growing sensationalism in media practices and the conduct of some prosecution representatives.

Matiullah Jan was arrested late Thursday night at the I-9 checkpoint under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 and various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to the police report, he allegedly struck a constable with his vehicle when instructed to stop, and is accused of stealing a government weapon and threatening the officer while allegedly intoxicated.