A Karachi court denied the bail request of television anchor and Awam Raj Tehreek chief Iqrarul Hassan in a cybercrime matter tied to his supposed social media posts, the ruling coming on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency registered the case as No. 101/2026 under Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), accusing Hassan of posting material on his official accounts that the agency deems anti-state, false and defamatory. These claims have not been proven in court.
Hassan has been held in judicial custody since October 19, after a magistrate turned down the agency's request for further physical remand and ordered his detention until October 26. The court previously gave the NCCIA extra time to interview him and review digital evidence gathered in the probe.
Following the bail denial, Hassan's lawyer said the defence will seek relief from the Sindh High Court once the detailed court order is received. Future actions will hinge on the written judgment and any proceedings before the higher court.
The case highlights the application of Pakistan's cybercrime legislation to issues involving political commentary and online activity.
