LHC grants bail to journalist in hate material case

The Lahore High Court on Friday granted post-arrest bail to journalist Izharul Haq in a case of sharing hate material on social media against state institution.
The FIA had lodged the FIR under section 505 of Pakistan Penal Code (inciting people against armed forces) and section 11/20 of Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016.
According to prosecution, the petitioner had displayed objectionable material against the judiciary and Pakistan army on his facebook account and mocked the national anthem.
Earlier, Mian Dawood Ahmad representing the petitioner argued that the FIA arrested the journalist merely for criticizing state institutions over acquittal of former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf in a high treason case.
The counsel pointed out that neither forensic report of the electronic devices recovered from the petitioner had been obtained so far by the prosecution nor challan of the case had been submitted before the trial court despite the lapse of three months. He therefore asked the court to allow bail as the case was nothing but a move to curb freedom of expression and free press in the country.
The court while allowing bail observed that the mandatory procedure under section 196 of CrPC had not been followed by prosecution before registering the case under section 505 of PPC.
The court also observed that the petitioner was behind the bars since January 20 last and was no more needed for any valid purpose while commencement and conclusion of trial might take time.