ISLAMABAD: A judicial magistrate in Islamabad on Monday granted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) three-day physical remand of journalist Bilal Ghauri in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).
According to the first information report, seen by Dawn, the case was registered on Sept 6 on the state’s behalf through NCCIA Technical Assistant Muhammad Umair Warsi under Section 20 (offences against the dignity of a natural person) and 26-A (dissemination of false and fake information) of Peca.
The FIR stated that Ghauri allegedly uploaded and disseminated content concerning the appointment of the National Counter Terrorism Authority’s (Nacta) head on Sept 5.
“Prima facie, the material allegedly contained assertions and allegations concerning the process and circumstances relating to the appointment of the Nacta national coordinator,” the FIR stated.
It said an inquiry into the matter concluded that Ghauri had “intentionally created, uploaded, transmitted and disseminated the false narratives through social media platforms”.
