Harmeet Singh gets interim bail

ISLAMABAD: A special court in Islamabad granted interim bail to anchorperson Harmeet Singh in a case filed by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.

The agency accused Singh – who dubs himself as Pakistan’s first Sikh anchor and journalist – of using social media to spread false information and incite violence against state institutions.

The hearing was conducted by Additional Session Judge Afzal Majoka, who approved the anchorperson’s bail against surety bonds of Rs20,000.

According to the FIR shared widely on X, FIA alleges that Singh’s posts aimed to discredit government institutions, provoke public unrest, and create divisions among citizens. It was said that these actions could potentially lead to chaos and ethnic tensions.

The FIR stated: “Following investigation RE-1478/2024 by the FIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, Islamabad, evidence suggests that Harmeet Singh, residing in Chakesar City, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, utilized his Twitter account (@HarmeetSinghPk) to disseminate false information and promote a baseless campaign against Pakistani state institutions and security agencies. This alleged activity, including tweets from November 24-27, 2024, is believed to have been undertaken with malicious intent and ulterior motives. The content of these tweets is suspected of inciting violence and terrorism, coercing the public to defy state and security forces, and fostering fear and societal unrest. Furthermore, the investigation suggests Singh’s actions aimed to sow discord among the pillars of the state and create ethnic divisions for personal political gain, constituting a subversive act. Based on these findings, a case under Sections 9, 10, 11, and 24 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 read with Section 505 of the Pakistan Penal Code has been registered against Mr. Singh”.

Also Read: Special courts formed for lawyers’ protection

According to Dawn, FIA has initiated legal action against over 150 individuals, for allegedly spreading misinformation about the November 26 crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters in Islamabad. The FIA’s Cybercrime Wing has arrested over 20 social media activists across the country for sharing posts about alleged deaths during the crackdown.

The agency has stressed that such behavior is a serious offense that undermines the integrity of state institutions and public safety. The ongoing investigation aims to hold accountable anyone involved in spreading misinformation and inciting violence.

Also read: FIA arrests two suspected pedophiles

PTI had alleged that twelve of its supporters were killed by law enforcement during a November 26 protest in Islamabad. However, the government has refuted these claims, rather in response to these allegations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif established a joint task force to investigate and take action against those disseminating misinformation regarding the protest-related deaths.