Karachi: Journalist Iqrar ul Hassan’s bail application will be decided on Thursday, October 29, after Karachi’s District and Sessions Court East concluded arguments on Wednesday in a case concerning allegedly unlawful social media content.

According to The Express Tribune, Hassan approached the sessions court after a judicial magistrate rejected his bail application.

The case invokes Sections 9, 10, 20, 24 and 26 A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. The First Information Report (FIR) alleges that Hassan used X, Instagram and Facebook to circulate false and defamatory material intended to incite the public against the state and its institutions.

These are allegations in the case, rather than findings of guilt.

During Wednesday’s hearing, defence counsel challenged the applicability of the provisions invoked against Hassan. The lawyer argued that the journalist had not promoted terrorism or glorified any proscribed organisation and that his remarks concerned the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) produced Hassan before a judicial magistrate on October 13, when the court authorised four days of physical remand, allowing the agency to retain custody for investigation.

A challenge to that remand was dismissed on October 16. The following day, his physical remand was extended by two days, according to the report.

Hassan’s wife, Farah Iqrar, previously told The Express Tribune that unidentified people claiming to represent the NCCIA had taken him from their Lahore residence. She alleged that they threatened to force entry before entering the house and taking him away.

Thursday’s ruling will determine the bail application; it will not settle the underlying allegations against the journalist.