LAHORE: A Lahore district and sessions court on Monday approved a four-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Falak Javed in two cases, including one linked to an alleged anti-state tweet.
Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo issued a written order after hearing the case, noting that the investigating officer from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had sought a 21-day physical remand.
The order stated that while the investigating officer had recovered the suspect’s mobile phone, Falak Javed had refused to provide its password. The court approved a four-day remand to allow further investigation, directing that she be produced again on October 8.
The judge added that any request for an extension would depend on the progress report submitted by the investigating officer. The order also permitted the continuation of interrogation within the jail premises if required.
Earlier, a judicial magistrate had already granted a four-day remand in a related case involving alleged misuse of social media against state institutions and a provincial minister.
The NCCIA presented Falak Javed before the magistrate after completing her previous remand. The defence counsel opposed further custody, arguing that the agency had already secured nine days of physical remand in a “baseless” case without recovering any device.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari had filed the complaint, accusing the PTI activist of doctoring and spreading her photos and videos online. She also petitioned the Lahore High Court, alleging that the delay in arresting the suspect amounted to negligence and that the online campaign violated her constitutional rights.
Falak Javed was subsequently arrested by NCCIA officials from Islamabad.
