Orya Maqbool Jan, a multifaceted individual with a career spanning playwriting, poetry, journalism, and civil service, has over one million subscribers on his YouTube channel. The former bureaucrat, known for his critical stance against the Pakistan Army, has recently been apprehended on charges of inciting religious hatred and defaming institutions, particularly the military. The 72-year-old Jan was taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cybercrime division for a four-day period starting August 22, following a raid at his Lahore home.
Jan’s previous confrontations with the authorities include a stint of detention by intelligence agencies due to his outspoken criticism of the military’s role in politics and his support for the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. In 2018, former Punjab provincial minister Mehmood-ur-Rasheed had proposed Jan as a candidate for the Punjab caretaker chief minister position under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) banner. This suggestion faced substantial backlash on social media due to Jan’s controversial standing.
PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry initially confirmed Jan’s consideration for the role but later retracted the statement, resulting in Jan being removed from the candidate list. Additionally, Jan’s visa application to Norway was declined that year, partly due to his critical comments about the Ahmadiyya and Jewish communities.
During his time as a deputy commissioner in Balochistan, Jan was noted for his favourable portrayal of the Taliban. In 2019, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) imposed a 30-day ban on Jan’s show “Harf-i-Raaz” on Neo TV due to violations of media regulations. He faced accusations of making disparaging remarks about Pakhtuns and hosting a spokesperson from the Afghan Taliban to discuss their perspectives on Pakistan’s domestic and foreign policies.
The current controversy surrounding Jan involves allegations related to his social media posts about the Mubarak Sani case. On February 6, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, overturned Sani’s conviction, which had been based on the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act of 2019. The court ruled that the alleged offence was not criminalised until 2021, resulting in the conviction being quashed and Sani’s immediate release.
This Supreme Court decision triggered what was deemed by the government and legal community as a “malicious and slanderous campaign” against the Chief Justice, leading the court to issue a clarification. Jan’s lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, has argued that the charges against his client are “false and baseless,” asserting that Jan did not insult anyone.
