KP officials denied bail in propaganda case

ISLAMABAD: A District and Sessions Court has denied bail to several KP officials accused of involvement in a social media propaganda campaign against Judge Humayun Dilawar. 

The decision comes as authorities increase scrutiny of online activities targeting members of the judiciary.

During the hearing on Saturday, the KP government officials failed to appear in the court. Due to their absence, the court rejected their bail applications.

The bail request of Muhammad Musaddiq Abbasi, special assistant on anti-corruption to the KP chief minister, was also dismissed. However, accused Sadiq Anjum appeared with his lawyer and was granted interim bail until November 11.

Meanwhile, Senior Civil Judge Muhammad Abbas Shah approved the physical remand of Assistant Director Anti-Corruption Umar Siddiq who had been detained over the alleged propaganda efforts. He was presented in the court, following his arrest on charges of circulating a video against Judge Dilawar.

The investigating officer argued for a seven-day remand to pursue further arrests linked to the case. Siddiq defended himself, stating that he had no role in the video’s dissemination and was made a scapegoat. Judge Shah approved four-day remand, handing Siddiq over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further questioning.

On September 11, a judicial magistrate in Bannu had issued arrest warrants for Special Judge FIA Court Islamabad Humayun Dilawar and others in a case involving illegal occupation of government land. He also happens to be the same judge who convicted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan in the Toshakana reference.