Bail pleas rejection of PTI activist: Judicial magistrate’s decision upheld

ISLAMABAD: A local court on Friday upheld the decision of the judicial magistrate regarding rejecting bail applications of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) social media activist in cases related to controversial posts on social media.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, while announcing his reserved judgment onsocial media activist Haider Saeed, dismissed his bail application.

The court announced its verdict after hearing detailed arguments from both the prosecution and the defence.

Lawyer Sarar Masroof and Murtaza Turi appeared before the court.

During the hearing, defence lawyers argued that Saeed’s tweets did not contain any incitement and that the cases registered against him were politically motivated. They further told the court that Saeed’s mobile phone and other digital devices were already in the custody of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), and therefore, there was no justification for his arrest.

The prosecution, however, urged the court to reject the bail applications, arguing that the accused had posted statements on social media calling for the blocking of dams and highways.

Prosecutors maintained that in cases of digital terrorism, there are no tanks or artillery; rather, such statements themselves constitute the offence.

The FIR registered against the accused says, consequent upon the conclusion of the enquiry of the NCCIA’s cyber crime reporting centre. It transpired that the accused Haider Saeed found sharing highly intimidating content on social media X. Furthermore, a review of the accused’s broader social media activities reveals a deliberate pattern of conduct, ridiculing and maligning State Institutions with the clear intent to instigate public discontent.

These activities were designed to erode public trust in constitutional bodies and incite societal unrest. Prima facie, a case is 9. 10. 20 & 20-A of PECA 2016 is made out against the accused.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026