In Islamabad, a district and session court has ordered a five-day physical remand for journalist Asad Toor in connection with allegations of conducting an anti-judiciary campaign on social media platforms.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented Toor before Magistrate Mohammad Shabbir, requesting his remand, while also granting Toor the right to consult his legal counsel for an hour.
During the court hearing, Toor defended his actions, stating his professional obligations as a journalist and detailing his cooperative efforts with the FIA, including his response to call-up notices and his attempt to clarify the charges against him with the assistance of a high court order.
Simultaneously, Toor’s mother expressed confusion and concern over her son’s arrest to the media outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC), revealing her lack of understanding regarding the accusations faced by her son and her intention to file a petition.
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The charges against Toor, as outlined in the FIR, accuse him of initiating a defamatory campaign against the judiciary on social media platforms, including X and YouTube, and engaging in activities deemed anti-state, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.
This arrest follows the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to examine the alleged campaign against government officials, culminating in Toor and another anchorperson, Imran Riaz Khan, being summoned by the FIA Cyber Wing on related charges.
Imran Riaz Khan, known for his critical stance on judiciary members, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) in a separate corruption case last week, highlighting ongoing tensions between state authorities and media figures in Pakistan.
