KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Wednesday granted bail to journalist Muhammad Aslam Shah in a case pertaining to alleged defa­mation on social media.

The judicial magistrate (South) on Wednesday took up the bail plea filed by Mr Shah through his counsel Nasir Ahmed.

After hearing the prosecutor representing the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), who opposed the application and the defence counsel, the court granted bail against a surety bond of Rs30,000 along with a PR bond.

Counsel Ahmed argued before the court that the NCCIA had violated Section 7 of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021.

He added the case against Mr Shah had been registered with malafide intent, alleging he had been implicated solely to “take revenge” and to save the complainant’s own skin.

He contended that the offence for which the applicant had been booked was neither punishable with death nor with imprisonment for life or for 10 years, and therefore did not fall within the ambit of the prohibitory clause.

On the other hand, the NCCIA prosecutor Sheraz Rajpar contended that the content was neither published in any newspaper nor aired on a news channel and, therefore, the applicant could not be allowed to run “fake news” on social media.

The case was registered on Dec 29, 2025, on the complaint of Tabish Raza Husnain, said to be an official of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation, under Sections 20 (offences against the dignity of a natural person) and Section 24 (cyberstalking) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.

The complainant had alleged that Mr Shah was doing “defamation propaganda” against him and his senior, Colonel Anjum, on social media groups.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2026