Lahore court rejects Rehan Tariq’s post-arrest bail in blasphemy case

LAHORE: A judicial magistrate on Thursday dismissed the post-arrest bail plea of podcast host Rehan Tariq in a case lodged under blasphemy provisions and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.

According to the case details, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) registered a first information report against the YouTuber on June 25 after he hosted a podcast featuring a religious scholar in which sensitive and contentious sectarian matters were discussed, triggering controversy among followers of different sects. The agency later arrested Tariq at Lahore’s international airport when he arrived from abroad.

Earlier this month, the magistrate had granted the NCCIA a six-day physical remand of the suspect on the investigating officer’s request. On Tuesday, he was sent to jail on judicial remand.

Arguments before the court

Representing the petitioner, Advocate Mian Dawood argued before the magistrate that the prosecution had not produced evidence establishing his client’s connection to the alleged social media uploads. He contended that interviewing a guest and asking questions on historical or religious subjects fell within constitutionally protected journalistic activity.

The defence counsel further argued that the FIR did not identify which specific questions were considered objectionable. He also told the court that opinions obtained from prominent religious scholars indicated that the questions did not amount to disrespect towards any revered Islamic personality.

He additionally maintained that Tariq was entitled to bail because, according to the defence, the prosecution had not fulfilled the requirements of Section 196 of the Criminal Procedure Code relating to prosecution for offences against the state. The lawyer argued that the offences fell within the non-prohibitory clause, the investigation had already been completed, no further recovery was required, and the matter called for further inquiry.

Court order and charges

In his ruling, Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo dismissed the bail petition, observing that no case had been made for the extraordinary concession of bail in the matter.

The FIR registered by the NCCIA invokes Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, dealing with hate speech. It also includes Sections 153-A, 295-A and 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code, relating respectively to promoting enmity between groups, outraging religious feelings, and uttering words or making gestures with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings.

In a separate development earlier in May, the NCCIA arrested 11 social media activists in different cities of Punjab on allegations of spreading anti-state propaganda and inciting unrest among the public.