Pakistani journalist Bilal Ghauri’s custody extended by two days — Dawn
In Islamabad, Pakistan, a judicial magistrate extended by two days the period of physical custody of journalist Bilal Ghauri in a case of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). Dawn reports.
Ghauri appeared before Judicial Magistrate Malik Aman after the completion of the previous three-day custody period. The NCCIA requested that the period be extended by another six days for further investigation. The court granted another two days and ordered the agency to bring the journalist before the court again on September 12.
Positions of the parties
Ghauri’s lawyer, Imran Shafiq, objected to the new request from investigators. He stated that the NCCIA had already reported seizing the necessary items. According to the defense lawyer, the agency seized the journalist’s mobile phone and laptop and has access to his social media accounts.
Shafiq also insisted that the prosecution must first establish why the statements attributed to his client are incorrect. Ghauri himself told the court that investigators possess all of his accounts, phone and laptop.
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At the same time, the investigator said that two-factor authentication is enabled on the journalist’s social media accounts, making it difficult for NCCIA staff to log into them.
Essence of the case
The case was registered on September 6 on behalf of the state following a complaint by NCCIA technical assistant Muhammad Umair Warsi. Ghauri is charged under Section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, concerning offenses against the dignity of a natural person, and Section 26-A on the dissemination of false and fake information.
Case materials claim that the journalist allegedly created and distributed content on social media concerning the appointment of the national coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta). According to investigators, the content was false, misleading and lacked legal, factual or independently verifiable grounds. Ghauri’s lawyer said that the video blog containing the statements that became the subject of the case was published on September 5, and the journalist was detained that same evening.
