Court grants bail to anchorperson Iqrarul Hassan, lawyer confirms

A Pakistani court has granted bail to broadcaster Iqrarul Hassan, confirmed by his lawyer Advocate Ahmad Masood. Hassan was apprehended by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for allegedly disseminating anti-state, false, and defamatory content via his social media profiles. He was charged under various sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).

The anchor was previously held in custody and granted bail on Saturday by East Judicial Magistrate Gulraiz Memon, subject to a Rs200,000 surety bond. The court received the NCCIA's remand report, stating that further investigation was unnecessary but awaiting forensic analysis of Hassan's seized digital devices and records from other departments.

On October 22, the same magistrate had denied Hassan's bail application, which later led him to appeal in a sessions court. Initially, Hassan was sent to prison on an eight-day judicial remand until October 26, followed by a four-day physical remand. On October 17, he appeared before Magistrate Memon after completing his initial remand, but the NCCIA requested an additional 10 days for questioning, an application which was denied.