Islamabad court grants NCCIA a two-day extension in journalist Bilal Ghouri’s physical remand after arguments from the prosecution and defense.
ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court on Thursday extended the physical remand of journalist Bilal Ghouri by two days after his initial three-day remand was completed.
Ghouri was produced before Judicial Magistrate Malik Aman for a hearing in the case. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) requested a further six-day physical remand of the journalist.
During the hearing, Ghouri’s lawyer, Imran Shafiq, opposed the request, arguing that the investigation agency had already recovered the relevant devices and other material.
“What more remand do they need now?” Shafiq questioned, according to the proceedings.
The lawyer told the court that the authorities had already taken possession of Ghouri’s mobile phone and laptop and also had access to his social media accounts.
Shafiq further argued that the investigating authorities should first establish how the statement attributed to Ghouri was incorrect. He questioned why the journalist had not been properly asked about the statement during the investigation.
“First prove how this statement is wrong,” the lawyer argued.
He also questioned the basis for seeking additional physical remand when the devices were already in the agency’s possession.
During the proceedings, Ghouri told the court that all of his accounts, as well as his mobile phone and laptop, were already with the authorities.
The investigating officer told the court that Ghouri’s social media accounts had two-factor verification enabled, which was creating difficulties in logging into the accounts.
Ghouri also made a pointed remark during the hearing, saying that the only thing left for the authorities was to “pull the tongue out of my mouth.”
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court granted a two-day extension in Ghouri’s physical remand instead of the six days sought by the NCCIA.
The court directed the authorities to produce Ghouri before it again on Sept. 12.
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