Journalist Bilal Ghauri to stay in NCCIA custody for 2 more days in Peca case

A court in Islamabad on Thursday gave the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) two more days to interrogate journalist Bilal Ghauri in a case involving alleged dissemination of false information.

Ghauri, who has already spent three days in NCCIA custody, was brought before Judicial Magistrate Malik Aman after the expiry of his initial remand. The agency had requested six additional days.

The request was opposed by Ghauri’s lawyer, Imran Shafiq, who argued that investigators had already taken possession of the journalist’s phone and laptop and obtained access to his social media accounts.

“If the recovery has already been made, what further remand do they need?” Shafiq questioned.
The lawyer also challenged the basis of the case, saying the prosecution had not explained why the statement attributed to Ghauri was considered false. “You have not even questioned him about how the statement is incorrect,” he told the court.

Ghauri also informed the magistrate that investigators had his devices and access to his social media accounts.

The investigating officer responded that two-step verification was active on the accounts, making it difficult for the agency to access them.

The case was registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) on September 6. It concerns content allegedly shared by Ghauri about the appointment of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) chief.

After hearing the arguments, the magistrate granted the NCCIA two additional days of physical remand and ordered the agency to produce Ghauri before the court again on September 12.