ISLAMABAD: On Monday, a judicial magistrate in Islamabad approved a three-day physical remand for journalist Bilal Ghauri, as requested by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), in connection with a case filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).
The first information report (FIR), as reported by Dawn, indicates that the case was initiated on September 6 by the NCCIA on behalf of the state, specifically through Technical Assistant Muhammad Umair Warsi. The report cites violations under Section 20, concerning offenses against individual dignity, and Section 26-A, which addresses the dissemination of false information.
According to the FIR, Ghauri is accused of publishing and sharing content related to the appointment of the head of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) on September 5. The document claims that the material allegedly contained various assertions regarding the appointment process and circumstances surrounding the national coordinator’s selection.
Details of the Case
The FIR points out that an inquiry determined Ghauri had “intentionally created, uploaded, transmitted and disseminated” misleading narratives on social media. It also asserted that the information in question was “false, misleading, and presented without any lawful, factual, or independently verifiable basis.”
During the court proceedings on Monday, Ghauri was brought before Judge Malik Aman, where the NCCIA requested a 10-day remand for further investigation. However, Ghauri’s lawyer, Advocate Imran Shafiq, contested this request, arguing that his client had been arrested without prior notice.
Defense Arguments
Advocate Shafiq stated that the vlog in which Ghauri purportedly made the controversial remarks was posted on the same day as his arrest, September 5. He maintained that there was nothing in the vlog that could be classified as false or fabricated. Ghauri himself contended that his comments were not directed at any individual but were focused on the performance of Nacta as an institution.
Shafiq further challenged the prosecution’s claims, urging the NCCIA to specify which statements in the vlog were considered false. Following the legal arguments from both sides, the court ultimately denied the NCCIA’s request for a longer remand and instead granted a three-day remand for further investigation into the allegations against Ghauri.
