A judicial magistrate has extended journalist Bilal Ghauri's physical remand by two days in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). The NCCIA had sought custody for another six days to continue investigating Ghauri over allegations that he spread false information about the appointment of the National Counter Terrorism Authority's head. Ghauri's counsel argued that since the investigation agency already has his mobile phone, laptop, and access to his social media accounts, there is no need for further remand. The magistrate granted a two-day extension, directing the NCCIA to produce Ghauri before court again on September 12.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Journalist Bilal Ghauri was granted a three-day physical remand by a judicial magistrate in Islamabad on Monday, September 6. He was accused of spreading false information about the appointment of the National Counter Terrorism Authority's (Nacta) head through social media platforms, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). The case against Ghauri was registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which claimed that he had intentionally created and disseminated false narratives. On Thursday, Ghauri's physical remand was extended for another two days, with the NCCIA seeking his custody for six more days to continue investigating. Ghauri's lawyer argued that the NCCIA had already made the required recoveries from him, including taking possession of his mobile phone and laptop, and therefore did not need further remand.
Written for “Peca Case Against Journalist” on 2026-09-10,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 7585 · logged 2026-09-10
A judicial magistrate on Thursday extended the physical remand of journalist Bilal Ghauri by two days in a case registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
asserted
magistrate → extend → Agency
Ghauri was handed into police custody for three days on Monday, with a September 6 case filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) accusing him of spreading false information.
asserted
case → hand → information
The case alleged that the journalist had created and shared content about the recent appointment of the National Counter Terrorism Authority’s (Nacta) head.
asserted
journalist → allege → head
On Thursday, Ghauri was produced before Judicial Magistrate Malik Aman upon the completion of his three-day physical remand.
asserted
Ghauri → produce → remand
The NCCIA sought the journalist’s custody for another six days for further investigation.
asserted
NCCIA → seek → investigation
Opposing the request, Ghauri’s counsel, Imran Shafiq, argued that the NCCIA had already stated that the required recoveries had been made.
“If the recovery has already been made, what further remand do they need?” the counsel asked.
asserted
counsel → oppose → remand
He pointed out that the NCCIA had taken Ghauri’s mobile phone and laptop into custody and also had access to his social media accounts.
asserted
NCCIA → point → accounts
The counsel further argued that the prosecution should first establish how the statement attributed to Ghauri was incorrect.
“You have not even questioned him about how the statement is incorrect,” Shafiq told the court.
asserted
Shafiq → argue → court
Ghauri also informed the court that the investigating agency had possession of all his accounts, mobile phone and laptop.
asserted
agency → inform → accounts
The investigating officer (IO), however, informed the court that two-step verification was enabled on the journalist’s social media accounts, making it difficult for investigators to log in.
asserted
investigators → investigate → accounts
After hearing the arguments, the court extended Ghauri’s physical remand for two days and directed the NCCIA to produce him before the court again on September 12.
asserted
court → hear → September
The case
The first information report (FIR) was registered 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.
asserted
report → register → Peca
The FIR stated that Ghauri allegedly uploaded and disseminated content concerning the appointment of Nacta’s national coordinator.
“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 → state → 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
According to Ghauri’s lawyer, the vlog in which his client was said to have made the remarks in question was uploaded on September 5, and he was arrested the same night.
uncertain
he → accord → September
