ISLAMABAD: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Sanam Javed in a case related to allegedly uploading anti-state material on social media.
Justice Farooq Haider heard the case and granted the bail application and ordered her release on a surety bond of Rs 500,000.
Ms. Javed was detained by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) earlier this month on charges of spreading material deemed harmful to the interests of the state. The FIA Lahore had registered the case under relevant provisions of the Electronic Crimes Act and the Pakistan Penal Code.
The PTI activist was represented by lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq and argued before the court that the petitioner had not made any statement or post that could be termed anti-state. He said the allegations were baseless and politically motivated.
The lawyer urged the court to consider the lack of criminal evidence and grant bail to his client, saying he was being targeted because of his political affiliations.
However, the FIA opposed the bail, saying that the content uploaded by Sanam Javed fell within the definition of anti-state propaganda and required further investigation.
After hearing the arguments of the parties, the court granted the plea and ordered Javed’s release on bail on submission of surety bonds.
Sanam Javed, a vocal supporter of the PTI, has faced several legal challenges in recent months amid the ongoing crackdown on party workers following the May 9 riots last year.
