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A prominent Pakistani journalist known for his hard-hitting criticism of the countrys military and other institutions has been released after he was kidnapped by heavily armed men in Islamabad.

At least 10 men in three vehicles intercepted Matiullah Jan on Tuesday soon after he arrived to pick up his wife from a school where she was teaching, according to Jans brother Shahid Akbar Abbasi. He said the kidnapping occurred at around 11am local time.

Abbasi indicated he thought the countrys intelligence and security agencies were behind the kidnapping. I believe those who are wielding power, they are the people who took him, he said.

But on Tuesday night Abbasi said his brother had been released.

I have talked to Matiullah Jan, he is safe, all right and on his way home, Abbasi said, adding it was too soon to know what had happened to Jan.

An Islamabad police spokesman said officers had begun gathering information in the case.

The militarys media department did not respond to requests for comment.

In a tweet earlier, the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan demanded the government immediately ensure the safe recovery of journalist Matiullah Jan.

In 2018 the military labelled Jan anti-state for his criticism of the judiciary and army. Jan has called a crackdown on the countrys media outlets a systematic attempt by the military and its intelligence agency to assert control with a facade of a democratically elected government.

Human rights groups and some journalists have been sharp critics of the military and Imran Khans government for what they say is a heavy-handed crackdown on free speech and independent journalism.

Media houses and TV news channels have been warned against covering events critical of the military, particularly the activities of a Pashtun rights group known as the Pashtun Tahafuz (Protection) Movement, which accuses the military of abuses in the tribal regions. Protesters have been arrested and columnists who supported their right to protest have had their columns pulled from publication.

Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, the owner of the Jang Group, one of Pakistans largest media houses, and a strident critic of the government, is in custody charged under the auspices of the National Accountability Bureau, which investigates charges of corruption,. Human rights groups have questioned whether the allegations are politically motivated.

Jan was active on social media and had recently been charged with contempt of court for a tweet critical of the judiciary. He was to appear in court within the next week.

The Austrian-based International Press Institute (IPI) joined the chorus of calls for Jan to be freed. We fear that Matiullah Jans life is in danger, and immediate steps must be taken to locate him and ensure his release from his apparent kidnappers, the IPIs deputy director, Scott Griffen, said in a statement. Given the history of violence against journalists in Pakistan, the authorities cannot delay in seeking to protect Jans safety.

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Pakistani journalist and army critic released after being kidnapped in Islamabad - The Guardian