In a significant development on February 19, 2026, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) received a forensic report confirming that a substance allegedly recovered from senior journalist Matiullah Jan was not a prohibited drug, specifically methamphetamine, commonly known as 'ice'. The report was presented during a hearing that attracted considerable attention, with a packed courtroom filled with legal professionals and supporters. Jan expressed relief on social media, stating, "The PFSA report presented before the court revealed that the substance allegedly recovered from me was not narcotics or ice." The court's findings raised questions about the viability of narcotics-related charges against him, leading to the case being referred back to the trial court for further proceedings. This case, which began with accusations of terrorism and narcotics possession following an incident at a police checkpost in November 2024, has been criticized as a politically motivated attack against press freedom, particularly given Jan's investigative work on law enforcement actions against PTI protesters.