PTM activist granted bail

Published September 27, 2018
This file photo shows a PTM rally in Lahore in April 2018.
This file photo shows a PTM rally in Lahore in April 2018.

ISLAMABAD: Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday granted post-arrest bail to Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) social media activist Hayat Preghal against Rs1 million surety bond.

The court, however, directed the interior ministry to place Mr Preghal on the exit control list and also instructed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to monitor his social media activities and if it found him doing anything against national interest, it may move a petition for cancellation of his bail.

Justice Farooq reserved the decision on the bail application of Mr Preghal on Tuesday.

During the hearing, Mr Preghal’s counsel Dr Babar Awan contended before the court that his client was innocent and wrongly implicated in the case.

He argued that no material was recovered from the possession of his client during investigation nor was the accused ‘directly nominated in the FIR’.

The FIR registered with the police does not mention Mr Preghal by name but includes URLs of the social media posts he allegedly made from his Twitter and Facebook accounts.

These accounts and Mr Preghal’s mobile phone, laptop and USB were accessed by the FIA’s Cyber Crime Unit during his detention.

Mr Preghal was taken into custody from Dera Ismail Khan on July 5 while he was visiting family during holidays after returning from UAE where he works as a pharmacist.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.