Karachi court reserves verdict on journalist Iqrarul Hassan's bail plea

A District and Sessions Court (East) in Karachi on Wednesday reserved its verdict on the bail application of journalist Iqrarul Hassan. The court is to announce its decision on Thursday, October 29. A judicial magistrate had earlier rejected his bail plea.

The case was registered under Sections 9, 10, 20, 24 and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. According to the FIR, Hassan used his accounts on X, Instagram and Facebook to spread content described as false, fabricated, anti-state and defamatory, aimed at instigating the public against the state, its institutions and its functionaries. The allegations have yet to be established in court.

The FIR also states that the posts portrayed the state and its institutions in a false and distorted manner, and presented lawful measures as controversial. It says the content was publicly accessible and could reach and influence people in Pakistan and abroad.

Hassan has changed his lawyer. His defence counsel told Wednesday's hearing that the journalist had not promoted terrorism and had not glorified any banned organisation. The counsel also argued that the sections invoked did not apply, saying Hassan had only spoken about the imposition of governor's rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) produced Hassan before the judicial magistrate (East) in Karachi on October 13, and he was handed to the agency on four days of physical remand. On October 16, the District and Sessions Court East dismissed a petition challenging the physical remand, in which the defence had questioned the legality of the proceedings and argued that the matter concerned digital and cyber issues.

On October 17, his physical remand was extended by two days. His lawyers' application was rejected, and the NCCIA was told to present a report at the next hearing.

On October 12, Hassan's wife, Farah Iqrar, told The Express Tribune that unidentified people posing as NCCIA officials had taken him from their home in Lahore's Defence area. She said five to seven people, including women, came late at night, demanded he come outside and threatened to break down the door before entering and taking him from a room.