A judicial magistrate in Islamabad has granted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) a three-day physical remand of journalist Bilal Ghauri in a case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). The case was registered against Ghauri on September 6 for allegedly uploading and disseminating false information about the appointment of the head of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) on September 5. According to the FIR, an inquiry found that Ghauri intentionally created and uploaded "false narratives" through social media platforms. The NCCIA had requested a 10-day remand but the court rejected this request and granted only three days for further investigation.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A judicial magistrate in Islamabad granted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) a 3-day physical remand of journalist Bilal Ghauri on Monday, in a case related to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). The case was registered on September 6, accusing Ghauri of uploading and disseminating false content about the appointment of the National Counter Terrorism Authority's (Nacta) head on September 5. According to the first information report, an inquiry found that Ghauri intentionally created and spread false narratives through social media platforms. The NCCIA obtained a remand for 3 days, allowing them to investigate further.
Written for “Peca Case Investigation Continues” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.35, but none of the 1 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 6766: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-07
A judicial magistrate in Islamabad on Monday granted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) three-day physical remand of journalist Bilal Ghauri in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).
asserted
magistrate → grant → Act
According to the first information report, seen by Dawn, the case was registered on Sept 6 on the state’s behalf through NCCIA Technical Assistant Muhammad Umair Warsi under Section 20 (offences against the dignity of a natural person) and 26-A (dissemination of false and fake information) of Peca.
uncertain
case → accord → Peca
The FIR stated that Ghauri allegedly uploaded and disseminated content concerning the appointment of the National Counter Terrorism Authority’s (Nacta) head on Sept 5.
uncertain
Ghauri → state → Sept
“Prima facie, the material allegedly contained assertions and allegations concerning the process and circumstances relating to the appointment of the Nacta national coordinator,” the FIR stated.
uncertain
FIR → contain → coordinator
It said an inquiry into the matter concluded that Ghauri had “intentionally created, uploaded, transmitted and disseminated the false narratives through social media platforms”.
asserted
Ghauri → say → platforms
The inquiry also found that the content was “false, misleading and presented without any lawful, factual or independently verifiable basis”, the FIR added.
asserted
FIR → find → basis
On Monday, Ghauri was produced before Judge Malik Aman, where the NCCIA sought his 10-day remand.
asserted
NCCIA → produce → remand
Ghauri’s lawyer, Advocate Imran Shafiq, opposed the agency’s request and maintained that his client was arrested without being served any prior notice.
asserted
client → oppose → notice
He added that the vlog in which Ghauri was said to have made the remarks in question was uploaded on Sept 5, and that he was arrested the same night.
asserted
he → add → Sept
He argued that there was not a single statement in the entire vlog that could be termed false or fabricated.
uncertain
that → argue → vlog
Ghauri, too, contended that his remarks were not about an individual, but were about Nacta and the institution’s performance.
asserted
remarks → contend → Nacta
Advocate Shafiq further argued that Ghauri had merely outlined the contents of a notification issued by the relevant authorities.
asserted
Ghauri → argue → authorities
The counsel questioned the prosecution’s allegation of false information and asked the NCCIA to identify exactly which statement in the vlog was false.
asserted
statement → question → vlog
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court rejected the NCCIA’s request for 10-day physical remand and instead handed Ghauri over to the agency on three-day remand for further investigation.
asserted
court → hear → investigation
