Iqrar ul Hassan to remain in jail as Karachi court rejects bail plea in PECA case

KARACHI: A Karachi court on Thursday rejected the bail application of television anchor and Awam Raaj Party chief Iqrarul Hassan in a cybercrime case over alleged anti-state content posted on social media, meaning he will remain in jail on judicial remand.

Judicial Magistrate-East Gulraiz Memon dismissed Hassan’s post-arrest bail application in the case registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

Following the decision, Hassan’s lawyer said the defence planned to challenge the order before the Sindh High Court after receiving the detailed judgment.

Hassan is currently on judicial remand until October 26 after the same court earlier rejected an NCCIA request to extend his physical custody.

According to the court order, Hassan has been booked in FIR No. 101/2026 at the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Karachi under Sections 9, 10, 20, 24 and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, as amended in 2025.

The case relates to content posted through Hassan’s official social media accounts that the NCCIA alleges was false, defamatory and against the state.

The agency has alleged that the material was intended to incite the public against constitutional measures and could cause panic, disorder and unrest. These allegations have not been proven in court.

Arrest and remand proceedings

Hassan was arrested in Lahore earlier this month and subsequently brought to Karachi in connection with the case.

His counsel, Barrister Mian Ali Ashfaq, previously told a sessions court that Hassan had been arrested from his DHA Lahore residence on October 12. The lawyer argued that the case arose from a video in which Hassan had commented on political developments, including the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The defence has maintained that Hassan’s remarks fell within his right to express views on political and public affairs and did not constitute an offence under PECA.

A Karachi judicial magistrate initially granted the NCCIA four days of Hassan’s physical remand. His lawyers subsequently challenged that order before the District and Sessions Court-East, but the challenge was dismissed on October 16 after the court found no gross illegality or irregularity in the magistrate’s order.

When Hassan was produced again on October 17, the NCCIA sought a further 10 days of physical custody. The magistrate instead granted the agency another two days and rejected a separate application seeking Hassan’s discharge from the case.

The NCCIA told the court that five digital devices recovered from Hassan had been sent for forensic examination. The agency said the devices contained more than 1,145 gigabytes of data that investigators wanted to analyse for social media accounts, email accounts, stored files and communications potentially linked to the content under investigation.

On October 19, the agency sought another eight-day extension in physical remand, arguing that further investigation was required.

The magistrate rejected the request, observing that the NCCIA had already been given sufficient time in physical custody and had failed to provide a compelling reason for another extension. Hassan was consequently sent to prison on judicial remand until October 26.

The court also directed the investigating agency to proceed with the case in accordance with the prescribed timeline.

Thursday’s rejection of Hassan’s bail application means he will remain in custody for now, while his legal team is expected to take the bail matter to the Sindh High Court.