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Islamabad Court Extends Remand of PTI Spokesperson Raoof Hasan and Others in Anti-State Campaign Case
Islamabad court extends physical remand of PTI's Raoof Hasan & 8 others for 3 days in anti-state digital campaign case. Investigation continues under PECA.
ND
by News Desk
2024-07-25
Islamabad Court Extends Remand of PTI Spokesperson Raoof Hasan and Others in Anti-State Campaign Case

An Islamabad district and sessions court extended the physical remand of PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan and eight others by three days on Thursday. The suspects are under investigation for allegedly running anti-state digital campaigns.

Hasan was arrested on Monday during a raid conducted by the Islamabad police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on PTI’s Central Office. The arrest falls under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA).

The arrest was not confirmed for several hours but was later verified by the interior ministry. The ministry's statement indicated that the raid was based on information provided by PTI activist Ahmad Waqas Janjua, who was arrested over the weekend.

The ministry accused PTI of engaging in "anti-state propaganda" and announced the formation of a joint interrogation team to investigate the case. Following the raid, the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation sealed PTI’s central media secretariat, citing a lack of fire and life safety measures.

PTI MNA Gohar Khan linked the crackdown to a Supreme Court order related to reserved seats, which positioned PTI as the largest party in the National Assembly. The FIA’s cybercrime wing had booked twelve individuals, including Hasan, under sections 9 (glorification of an offence), 10 (cyberterrorism), and 11 (electronic forgery) of PECA.

On Tuesday, Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Shabbir approved a two-day remand for Hasan, as the FIA sought to recover social media accounts and electronic devices. On Thursday, nine suspects were presented before Magistrate Shabbir, with Ali Bukhari and Latif Khosa representing Hasan, and Imran Feroze Malik acting as the FIA prosecutor.

The FIA investigation officer requested an additional eight-day remand for further investigation and the seizure of social media accounts. Citing a 2023 Islamabad High Court judgment, the court allowed a three-day remand, emphasizing the cautious use of remand powers.

During the hearing, the FIA prosecutor claimed that social media accounts and a Gmail account had not yet been recovered. The prosecutor argued that individuals abroad were involved in running WhatsApp groups with fake accounts recovered from the suspects' mobile phones. He emphasized the need for more time due to limited technical expertise.

PTI’s Khosa questioned the applicability of the charges and stressed the right to criticize the government. He highlighted Hasan's health issues and his long service to the country. Khosa and Bukhari argued for the suspects' discharge, questioning the relevance of arresting individuals like receptionists and office guards.

The FIA prosecutor countered that the arrests were necessary to prevent suspects from fleeing and to conduct thorough investigations. Following the arguments, Magistrate Shabbir granted a three-day remand for further investigation.

FIA Case and Request:

The first information report (FIR), filed by Islamabad Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Inspector Sajid Ikram on July 22, named twelve individuals, including Hasan, Janjua, and two women already in judicial custody. The FIA's request detailed the suspects' involvement in building anti-state narratives with local and foreign elements, orchestrating social media trends, and inciting violence.

The interim technical report indicated over 100 active social media groups with more than 10,000 members promoting anti-state content. The FIA highlighted the need to confront suspects with technical analysis reports and recover electronic devices used in the alleged offenses.
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