Matiullah Jan

Matiullah Jan (born 1969) is a Pakistani journalist and author who reports from the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He is also the host of Sahafi on Neo News and runs his YouTube channel, MJtv.

Early life and education Matiullah Jan was born in 1969 into a military family. His father was a Pakistan Army officer. He briefly attended the Pakistan Military Academy before turning to journalism. The program attracted controversy and was taken off air, after which Jan left Dawn News in 2012. Later, he joined Waqt News, where he hosted a similar investigative talk show focused on governance, corruption, and the rule of law. He was not injured. Due to his criticism of the military establishment he has been threatened many times. In 2018, he was sacked from Waqt News, where he was working as a TV host. He then launched his YouTube channel, MJtv, where he began publishing independent reporting and commentary.

In 2020, Jan interviewed former DG FIA. In July 2020, Jan was abducted in Islamabad outside the school where his wife works. CCTV footage showed armed men forcing him into a vehicle. He was released approximately 12 hours later and left blindfolded on the outskirts of the city.

In 2023, he returned to television as host of Sahafi on Neo News, while continuing to publish content on his digital platform. In November 2024, Jan was detained in Islamabad and charged with drug possession, resisting arrest, and terrorism. Police claimed narcotics were recovered from his vehicle at a checkpoint. Jan denied the allegations, stating that he was detained by unidentified men while covering a protest and that the charges were fabricated. An anti-terrorism court granted him bail days later.

Personal life Matiullah is married to Kaneez Sughra and is based in Islamabad.

Publications He has authored or co-authored the following publications: Guaranteeing Copyright: Media Manager's Guide to Pakistani Broadcast Law, Internews, 2004. Co-authored with Muhammad Aftab Alam. Media in Pakistan, Growing Space, Shrinking Freedoms: Annual Report on State of Media Freedoms in Pakistan, Internews, 2005. Co-authored with Adnan Rehmat. Watching the Watchdog, How Pakistan is Front Paged and Headlined? : a Report on Trends in Pakistani Media, Centre for Civic Education Pakistan, 2006. Co-authored with Zafarullah Khan.