An Islamabad court on Thursday approved a three-day extension to the physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesman Raoof Hasan, allowing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to maintain his custody for further investigation.
Earlier this week, the FIA booked Hasan and several other members of the PTI media cell for allegedly heading a digital media cell involved in propagating anti-Pakistan propaganda. The detained persons were initially placed under two-day remand, which expired today (Thursday), with the FIA producing them in court.
During proceedings, the court approved the bail petitions of two women who worked at the PTI Secretariat, despite the FIA’s prosecutor arguing this could impact the case. The counsel maintained that the PTI’s digital media cell had organized social media campaigns against two state institutions. “Sections of the PECA [Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act] imposed on both women are also important; we also have evidence against them,” argued the prosecutor, with the defense counsel rebutting that the FIA should present any evidence it has in court.
According to the prosecutor, authorities have yet to recover details of all relevant social media accounts. He alleged that people were operating WhatsApp groups in exchange for payment, adding further that people based abroad were also involved. He alleged that the FIA had found the suspects were also operating fake accounts through their mobile phones.
“The purpose of physical remand is not only recovery; remand can also be taken for investigation,” he argued. “We don’t want to get sentences for Raoof Hasan and others, but we just want to investigate,” he added.
The court then approved an extension of physical remand for 9 people.
According to the FIA’s FIR, PTI activist Ahmad Waqas Janjua revealed during interrogations that he and several members of the PTI leadership and media cell were propagating alleged anti-state propaganda. It has charged the suspects under PECA sections 9 (glorification of an offense), 10 (cyber-terrorism), and 11 (hate speech).