Judicial Magistrate grants bail to anchorperson Iqrarul Hassan in PECA case

KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Saturday granted bail to anchorperson Iqrarul Hassan, his lawyer, Advocate Ahmad Masood, confirmed.

Hassan was arrested by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in a case registered in Karachi. He is accused of disseminating anti-state, false and defamatory content through his official social media accounts and was booked under multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

According to Advocate Masood, East Judicial Magistrate Gulraiz Memon granted bail against surety bonds of Rs200,000. He said the challan has been submitted to the court and the authorities have taken Hassan’s electronic devices into possession.

During the hearing, the NCCIA told the court that no further investigation involving Hassan was required, though it was still awaiting a forensic report.

Background

Hassan, who hosted ARY News’ investigative programme Sar-e-Aam for many years, left the channel in April 2026.

On October 22, the magistrate rejected Hassan’s bail plea, and the defence challenged the decision in a sessions court. The NCCIA’s remand report said the investigation had progressed but important aspects remained to be examined, pending forensic analysis of Hassan’s seized devices and records from other departments, including the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

The sessions court found no merit in the application and dismissed it. It noted, however, that the defence could move a bail application before the trial court, as the challan had been submitted after the earlier plea was rejected.

On October 19, the magistrate had sent Hassan to prison on an eight-day judicial remand until October 26. On October 17, he was produced before the magistrate after completing a four-day physical remand. The NCCIA had sought a further 10 days of custody for questioning, but the magistrate granted only two.