Islamabad: Raoof Hasan, the Information Secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been given a 2-day physical remand under the order of a judicial magistrate in Islamabad as per the request of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Originally, the FIA had wanted a 10-day remand for Hasan.
The arrest was made on Monday when Islamabad Police raided PTI Secretariat and took away a computer among other items. According to sources, security forces claim that the PTI’s digital media cell was fanning international fake news and working with foreign agencies to spread anti-Pakistan sentiment.
PTI has fully condemned the raid, claiming that the law enforcement personnel also seized important affidavits belonging to MNAs and MPAs. These documents are crucial for proving affiliation to a certain party and may influence the make-up of the National Assembly.
Before the Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah, the FIA prosecutor claimed the need for Hasan’s remand because FIA wanted to seize the equipment that was allegedly used in the management of social media accounts involved in the disinformation scheme. These devices are considered necessary for further investigations.
Lawyer Latif Khosa defended Hasan for PTI saying that he was not involved in the digital media wing and also opposed the labeling of PTI members as traitors.
After the proceedings, the court allowed the physical remand of Hasan for 2 days and 10 other male detainees to the FIA. The arrested women were directed to go for judicial remand and were then taken to jail.
The story involving Raoof Hasan’s arrest and the allegations of PTI in digital media activities is still evolving, eliciting responses from different political leadership, and raising questions about freedom of speech and political planning in Pakistan.
These changes are observed parallel to the ongoing legal processes and concern PTI’s internal functioning and the political situation in the country.
