NCCIA handed journalist Bilal Ghauri's custody for another 2 days in Peca case

ISLAMABAD: A judicial magistrate on Thursday extended journalist Bilal Ghauri's physical custody for an additional two days in a case filed by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). On Monday, Ghauri was initially handed over to police custody for three days, following a September 6 case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).

The charges allege that Ghauri spread false information about the National Counter Terrorism Authority’s (Nacta) head appointment. On Thursday, Ghauri appeared before Judicial Magistrate Malik Aman after completing his three-day physical remand. The NCCIA requested custody for further six days for ongoing investigation. Ghauri's attorney, Imran Shafiq, countered the request, pointing out that the NCCIA had already made the required recoveries, including Ghauri's mobile phone, laptop, and access to his social media accounts.

Shafiq questioned the need for further remand, emphasizing that the prosecution should establish the inaccuracies in the statement attributed to Ghauri. The court granted Ghauri's request for an extra two days and ordered the NCCIA to produce him before the court again on September 12. The FIR was registered on behalf of the state through NCCIA Technical Assistant Muhammad Umair Warsi under Sections 20 and 26-A of Peca.

The allegations state that Ghauri uploaded and disseminated false content concerning Nacta's national coordinator appointment. An inquiry found that the content was intentionally false and misleading, presented without any lawful or verifiable basis. According to Ghauri's lawyer, the vlog in question was uploaded on September 5, and he was arrested the same night.