Court dismisses post-arrest bail petition of podcast host Rehan Tariq in blasphemy case

LAHORE: On Thursday, a judicial magistrate rejected the bail application filed after the arrest of the podcast show host Rehan Tariq in a case booked under the blasphemy laws and Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) filed an FIR against the YouTuber on June 25, following which he hosted a podcast with a religious cleric and raised highly sensitive and controversial issues related to sects, creating controversies among the followers of sects.

The NCCIA had arrested the YouTuber from Lahore’s international airport when he had returned from abroad. The YouTuber was put on judicial remand on Tuesday.

The lawyer for the petitioner, Advocate Mian Dawood, contended before the court that there was no evidence available against the client of the petitioner in connection with the social media uploads.

According to him, the act of conducting an interview and questioning about history or religion was a constitutional right of journalism. He added that the FIR did not mention the questions that were disrespectful towards any respected figure of Islam.

It was further stated by the advocate that according to the opinions of some renowned religious scholars, those questions were not disrespectful to any revered figure of Islam.

The counsel also said that bail could be granted to the petitioner since the prosecution had not fulfilled all the prerequisites of section 196 (Prosecution for offences against the state) of CrPC.

It was mentioned by the counsel that offences fall under non-prohibitory clause, investigation was completed, no more recovery was needed, and the case needed further inquiry.

In his judgment, Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo rejected the bail application since there was no reason for extraordinary grant of bail in the case.