PTI’s Raoof Hasan released from Adiala Jail

ISLAMABAD: PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan was released on bail from Adiala Jail on Tuesday night by an anti-terrorism court in a case related to the alleged recovery of explosives.

PTI lawyer and spokesperson Naeem Haider Panjotha shared this news on social media platform X. Footage of Hasan’s release has been circulating on social media, showing him leaving the jail and getting into a car.

Hasan was arrested on July 22 by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PICA). His arrest is consistent with the Home Ministry’s allegation that the PTI was involved in “anti-state propaganda”.

The government later set up a Joint Investigation Committee (JIT) to investigate those allegedly creating “chaos and disorder” in the country through “malicious social media campaigns”.

In connection with the social media case, Hasan was initially remanded in FIA custody for seven days, beginning with a two-day physical remand, followed by three days and two days extension for further investigation. done On July 31, Hasan was shifted to Adiala Jail on 14-day judicial remand and arrested in a separate terrorism case.

The case, which allegedly involved arms and explosives, did not directly name him but was the same case in which Ahmed Janjua, the PTI’s international media coordinator, was detained.

Although an Islamabad court granted bail to Hasan and eight others in the social media case on August 1, Hasan was handed over to the Counter-Terrorism Department on July 31 on two-day physical remand.

The remand was extended by one day on August. 2, after which Hasan was produced before the Islamabad ATC, which ordered a 14-day judicial remand.

ATC judge Tahir Abbas Supra heard Hasan’s bail and granted the plea and ordered his release on furnishing a surety bond of Rs 200,000.

The judge noted that Hassan, a 75-year-old cancer survivor with serious illnesses including heart disease, had no prior criminal record and was highly educated.

The investigation was over, and Hasan no longer needed to be detained. The judge added that despite Hasan’s physical remand, no evidence was found to link him to the alleged financing of explosives.

After the verdict, the court issued an order for Hasan’s release.