Key Takeaways
- A judicial magistrate extended journalist Bilal Ghauri’s physical remand for two days.
- The case was registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) for spreading false information.
- Ghauri’s counsel argued that the NCCIA had already made the required recoveries.
A judicial magistrate in Islamabad extended the physical remand of journalist Bilal Ghauri for two more days in a case registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).
Ghauri was initially handed into police custody for three days on Monday, following the filing of a case on September 6, accusing him of spreading false information regarding the recent appointment of the National Counter Terrorism Authority’s (Nacta) head.
The NCCIA sought custody for another six days for further investigation, but Ghauri’s counsel, Imran Shafiq, argued that the required recoveries had already been made.
Shafiq pointed out that the NCCIA had taken Ghauri’s mobile phone and laptop into custody and had access to his social media accounts.
The counsel also stated that the prosecution should first establish how the statement attributed to Ghauri was incorrect, as the investigating officer had not questioned him about it.
Ghauri informed the court that the investigating agency had possession of all his accounts, mobile phone, and laptop.
The investigating officer informed the court that two-step verification was enabled on Ghauri’s social media accounts, making it difficult for investigators to log in.
After hearing the arguments, the court extended Ghauri’s physical remand for two days and directed the NCCIA to produce him before the court again on September 12.
The case was registered through NCCIA Technical Assistant Muhammad Umair Warsi under Section 20 (offences against the dignity of a natural person) and 26-A (dissemination of false and fake information) of Peca.
The FIR stated that Ghauri allegedly uploaded and disseminated content concerning the appointment of Nacta’s national coordinator, and an inquiry concluded that the content was false, misleading, and presented without any lawful, factual, or independently verifiable basis.
If the recovery has already been made, what further remand do they need?
Imran Shafiq, Ghauri’s counsel
You have not even questioned him about how the statement is incorrect.
Imran Shafiq, Ghauri’s counsel
