Iqrar-ul-Hassan released from Karachi Central jail after securing bail

Television host and Pakistan Awam Raj Tehreek chairman Syed Iqrar-ul-Hassan has been released from Karachi Central Jail after securing bail in a case registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

A Karachi court ordered his release against surety bonds worth Rs200,000.

Judicial Magistrate Gulraiz Memon announced the verdict at the City Court after hearing arguments from lawyers representing both sides.

Iqrar-ul-Hassan was taken into custody on October 12 from Lahore’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area.

During the hearing, his lawyer, Ahmed Masood, informed the court that the challan in the case had already been submitted and the television host’s mobile phones had also been taken into custody.

The NCCIA told the court that it no longer required further interrogation of the accused, although his forensic report was still awaited. Subsequently, the court approved his bail application and ordered his release upon submission of the required surety bonds.

Following his arrest in October, Judicial Magistrate (East) had initially granted the NCCIA four-day physical remand of the television host.

The NCCIA had accused Iqrar-ul-Hassan of allegedly publishing anti-state, false, and defamatory content through his official social media accounts.

A case was registered against him under Sections 9, 10, 24, and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).