Islamabad, March 28, 2025: The District and Sessions Court in Islamabad on Friday granted bail to journalist Waheed Murad, who had been arrested under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The court approved his release against Rs50,000 surety bonds after a hearing on his post-arrest bail plea.
Murad was presented before Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah after completing a two-day physical remand. During the proceedings, the magistrate questioned the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) about the material recovered during the investigation. Murad’s lawyer, Imaan Mazari, argued that he had merely quoted a statement by politician Akhtar Mengal in his social media post. Another lawyer, Hadi Ali Chatha, reinforced the argument, stating that Murad’s tweet was based entirely on Mengal’s words.
Earlier, a petition seeking Murad’s recovery had been filed by his mother-in-law through lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha. The petition named several high-ranking officials, including the interior secretary, defense secretary, Islamabad’s inspector general of police, and the station house officer (SHO) of Karachi Company police station, demanding action against those allegedly involved in his disappearance. Although a complaint was filed at the Karachi Company police station, no formal FIR was registered.
The court’s decision to grant bail has sparked discussions on press freedom and digital rights in Pakistan, particularly regarding the application of PECA against journalists.
