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Journalist Aslam Shah Granted Bail a Week After Arrest Under PECA
Journalist Aslam Shah has been granted bail a week after his arrest under PECA over alleged social media defamation. Court ordered Rs30,000 surety bonds.
ND
by News Desk
2026-01-14
Journalist Aslam Shah Granted Bail a Week After Arrest Under PECA

Journalist Muhammad Aslam Shah was granted bail on Wednesday, a week after his arrest on charges of “defamation through social media” under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

Judicial Magistrate (South) approved Shah’s post-arrest bail application during today’s hearing and directed him to submit surety bonds worth Rs30,000.

A large number of journalists were present in court in a show of solidarity, while Shiraz Rajper, counsel for the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), also appeared before the court.

Shah was arrested by the NCCIA on January 7. He later moved a bail application through his lawyer Nasir Ahmed, arguing that the case was registered with malafide intent and aimed at victimising him for professional reasons.

During an earlier hearing on January 12, the court was informed by an NCCIA official that the investigating officer was on leave and that the case file was unavailable, prompting an adjournment until January 14.

In the bail plea, Shah’s counsel maintained that the journalist, who has over 30 years of professional experience, was being targeted to “take revenge” and shield the complainant. He further argued that Shah was protected under Section 7 of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021.

The case was registered on December 29, 2025, on the complaint of Tabish Raza Husnain, reportedly an official of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), under Sections 20 and 24 of PECA.

According to the FIR, the complainant alleged that Shah had engaged in “defamation propaganda” on social media against him and his senior, Colonel Anjum, and had used abusive language that allegedly harmed his reputation and caused mental distress.

The arrest had drawn criticism from journalist bodies and press freedom advocates. In August 2025, the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting expressed concern over the growing number of cases registered against journalists under PECA and called for urgent reforms to address media persons’ grievances regarding FIRs and arrests.
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PressFreedom

PECA

AslamShah

JournalistRights
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