A district court in Lahore has dismissed the post-arrest bail application of podcaster Rehan Tariq in a case involving blasphemy-related allegations.
The bail plea was heard at the Lahore District Courts, where Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo announced the verdict after listening to arguments presented by lawyers representing both the prosecution and the defense. During the hearing, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) opposed the request for bail, arguing against the petition. After reviewing the submissions from both parties, the court decided to reject the application.
Representing Rehan Tariq, Advocate Mian Dawood contended that the legal provisions cited in the case were bailable. He further argued that the remarks attributed to his client did not amount to blasphemy and therefore did not justify continued detention. The case was registered by the NCCIA under provisions related to blasphemy and electronic crimes. Following the hearing, the court declined to grant post-arrest bail.
Earlier this month, another Lahore court handed Rehan Tariq over to the NCCIA on a six-day physical remand after his arrest in connection with allegations of promoting religious hatred through online content.
Rehan Tariq was arrested by the NCCIA shortly after arriving in Pakistan from London. Authorities booked him under Sections 11-C, 295-A, and 298 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), alleging that material shared online had hurt religious sentiments and could potentially incite sectarian tensions.
The case is linked to a podcast episode featuring religious scholar Syed Jawad Naqvi, which attracted significant attention and debate on social media. According to the First Information Report (FIR), investigators alleged that Rehan Tariq raised questions on highly sensitive sectarian matters during the interview. The complainant claimed that the content, its context, and the manner in which it was presented had the potential to provoke disagreement and conflict among followers of different religious sects and schools of thought.
Also Read: Was Rehan Tariq Arrested at Lahore Airport Recently?
