A local court in Islamabad has granted an additional 2-day physical remand for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Rauf Hassan and other accused, handing them over to the FIA. The court has sent PTI social media activist Syeda Arooba to jail on judicial remand.
In Islamabad's District and Sessions Courts, the FIA presented PTI Information Secretary Rauf Hassan before Duty Judge Mureed Abbas. Rauf Hassan and other accused were presented in court today after completing a 3-day physical remand.
Additionally, PTI social media activist Syeda Arooba was also presented in court to obtain a physical remand. Syeda Arooba was arrested by the FIA yesterday.
PTI lawyer Ali Bukhari also appeared before the court. The FIA requested an 8-day physical remand for Rauf Hassan and other accused.
At the start of the hearing, the FIA prosecutor informed the court that transcripts of anti-state videos have been added to the record and that forensic analysis is required. Therefore, an additional 8 days of physical remand is needed for further recovery. Under the PECA Act, a 30-day remand can be obtained. Without custody of the accused, inquiries cannot be conducted.
Judge Mureed Abbas asked if Rauf Hassan has a visa or ticket from India, to which the FIA prosecutor responded affirmatively.
The judge asked Rauf Hassan if he had ever been to India. Rauf Hassan replied that he runs a regional think tank.
Judge Mureed Abbas then asked about a chat with someone named Rahul, to which Rauf Hassan confirmed that Rahul lives in the UK and had invited him to Bahrain as a guest speaker. Rauf Hassan stated that he is a senior fellow at King's College London and is responsible for dealing with electronic media, not social media.
Subsequently, Rauf Hassan's lawyer, Ali Bukhari, began his arguments by addressing the workers' issue. The FIA prosecutor mentioned that all the workers are connected to Azhar Mashwani and Rauf Hassan, including Afaq, Zeeshan, Rashid, and Usama.
Ali Bukhari continued, stating that a woman was arrested yesterday. The FIA prosecutor said that Arooba handles PTI's social media accounts but has not surrendered the accounts yet.
Ali Bukhari argued that the woman was handling PTI's social media accounts as an employee and was arrested from her hostel, which is against the law. The FIA could have issued a notice to Arooba.
The prosecutor informed the court that the new amendments to PECA allow for such arrests. Ali Bukhari countered that the entire case revolves around mobile phones, all of which are in FIA's possession. Therefore, the accused should be released, and if anything surfaces, the courts are available. The Islamabad High Court has ruled that mobile phones and laptops should be returned.
Ali Bukhari requested the discharge of Rauf Hassan and other arrested individuals from the case.
The FIA prosecutor stated that even in the context of freedom of speech, the state must be considered first. Rauf Hassan claimed he was not responsible for social media, but he has connections with those arrested. The reason for seeking a physical remand is to ascertain these connections.
After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its decision on the physical remand of Rauf Hassan and others, which was announced later.
The court granted an additional 2-day physical remand for Rauf Hassan, while PTI social media activist Syeda Arooba was sent to jail on judicial remand.
It is noteworthy that a case has been registered against Rauf Hassan and others under the PECA Act.
On July 25, the Islamabad District and Sessions Court approved an additional 3-day physical remand for PTI leader Rauf Hassan and nine others in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PECA) Act.
On July 23, the Islamabad District and Sessions Court handed over PTI Information Secretary Rauf Hassan to the FIA on a 2-day physical remand.
On July 22, Islamabad police raided the PTI Secretariat and arrested Information Secretary Rauf Hassan.
Earlier, Shibli Faraz claimed that the police had arrested PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and leader Rauf Hassan, but the police did not disclose the case in which they were arrested.
However, Barrister Gohar later denied his arrest.
According to PTI sources, the police took away computers and other equipment from the PTI Secretariat.
Security sources said that the raid on the PTI's digital media cell was based on evidence, and the PTI's digital media center had become a hub for international disinformation. Meanwhile, PTI alleged on Twitter that Islamabad police were targeting PTI.
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