Orya Maqbool Jan Remains in Custody as Court Rejects Bail
On September 3, the Lahore Sessions Court, presided over by Additional District and Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ali Qamar, rejected Orya Maqbool Jan’s post-arrest bail plea. The prominent journalist and anchor person is facing charges of hate speech. The decision came after a hearing in which both sides presented their arguments in the cybercrime case.
On September 2, the court notified the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding Jan’s bail application. Jan was arrested on August 22 and remanded after the FIA requested 14 days of custody to gather evidence and complete their investigation. On August 26, the remand was extended for an additional four days.
Jan remains in custody under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, facing charges of using social media to incite religious hatred and criticize state institutions, including the judiciary.
During the court proceedings, Jan’s lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, argued that the charges were not backed by concrete evidence and were based on assumptions. He contended that the FIA’s case rested on a single social media post, which, according to the defense, merely reflected Jan’s personal views on judicial matters rather than any intent to incite hate or unrest. Ashfaq also emphasized that the investigation had concluded, and there was no justification for keeping Jan in custody.
The FIA, however, maintained that Jan’s social media activity violated PECA by spreading content that could incite public disorder and undermine the authority of state institutions. The prosecution argued that Jan’s actions warranted continued detention to prevent further dissemination of similar content.
After hearing both sides, Judge Qamar ruled against Jan’s bail, stating that the FIA had provided sufficient evidence to justify keeping Jan in detention while the trial proceeded.
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