Court extends PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan’s remand for three days

A federal capital court has extended the physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Raoof Hasan, handing him over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for an additional three days. Hasan and several PTI media cell members face allegations of leading a digital media operation involved in anti-Pakistan propaganda.

The FIA has charged the PTI information secretary and other members for their roles in running the digital media cell, which the police claim has become a hub of international disinformation, spreading anti-Pakistan propaganda worldwide.

Hasan and the other arrested members were produced before the court after completing a two-day physical remand. During the hearing, the court approved the bail petitions of two arrested female members of the PTI Secretariat against surety bonds of Rs50,000 each.

The FIA’s prosecutor argued that social media campaigns were orchestrated against two state institutions and that granting bail to the two women, who were employees of PTI’s social media cell, would impact the case. He emphasized the importance of the sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) imposed on the women and claimed to have evidence against them.

In response, defense counsel Ali Bukhari insisted that if the FIA has evidence, it should be presented in court. The prosecutor then requested an extension of the physical remand for the 12 suspects, including Hasan, stating that the social media accounts in question have not yet been recovered. He alleged that people are running WhatsApp groups for money and that some individuals abroad are also involved.

The FIA prosecutor further alleged that fake accounts were being operated from the suspects’ mobile phones and claimed that Hasan heads the social media team responsible for campaigns against the administration and judiciary. He added that the FIA needs more time to gather evidence as it currently has only one social media expert. The prosecutor clarified that the purpose of physical remand is not solely for recovery but also for thorough investigation.