Court reserves verdict on Iqrarul Hassan’s bail plea

A District and Sessions Court in Karachi on Wednesday reserved its verdict on journalist Iqrarul Hassan’s bail application in a case involving allegations of spreading anti-state content on social media.

The court is scheduled to announce its decision on Thursday, October 29, after hearing arguments from the prosecution and defence. A judicial magistrate had previously rejected Hassan’s bail plea.

The case was registered under Sections 9, 10, 20, 24 and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. The complaint alleges that Hassan used his accounts on X, Instagram and Facebook to circulate false and defamatory material targeting the state, its institutions and government officials.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Hassan’s newly appointed defence lawyer argued that the journalist had neither promoted terrorism nor glorified any banned organisation. The lawyer maintained that the legal provisions invoked in the case did not apply to Hassan’s statements, which concerned the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The prosecution’s allegations, as outlined in the first information report (FIR), state that Hassan’s social media posts presented state institutions and official actions in a misleading manner. The complaint further claims that the posts were publicly accessible and could influence audiences in Pakistan and abroad. These allegations have yet to be established in court.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) produced Hassan before a judicial magistrate in Karachi on October 13. The court subsequently granted the agency four days of physical remand for investigation.

On October 16, the District and Sessions Court (East) rejected a petition challenging the physical remand. The defence had questioned the legality of the proceedings, arguing that the matter involved digital and cyber-related issues.

A day later, Hassan’s physical remand was extended by two days. His lawyers’ application was also rejected, and the agency was directed to submit a report at the next hearing.

The case drew further attention after Hassan’s wife, Farah Iqrar, alleged that unidentified individuals posing as NCCIA officials had taken him from their home in Lahore’s Defence area on the night of October 12.

According to Farah, between five and seven people, including women, arrived at the residence and demanded that Hassan come outside. She alleged that they threatened to break down the door before entering the house, taking him from a room and removing him from the premises.