In an interested development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Karachi Information Secretary Fauzia Siddiqui has been released from jail on Tuesday.
She was arrested last week and placed under judicial custody in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) booked and arrested the information secretary of PTI-Karachi Division, Fauzia Siddiqui, for allegedly spreading fake news through her social media account and using derogatory language against senior army officials.
The Cybercrime wing of the FIA booked her under Section 20 (offences against dignity of a natural person) and 26-A (false and fake information) of the Peca 2025.
The investigating officer of the case produced Ms Siddiqui before the court of a judicial magistrate and sought her custody for two weeks to collect digital evidence including passwords of the recovered devices.
However, her counsel argued that the case was part of a political victimisation campaign against the PTI and his client was arrested because she was affiliated with the embattled party.
The defence lawyer also submitted that all the relevant devices were already in the possession of the IO and there was no justification for any physical remand.
Judicial Magistrate (East) Yusra Ashfaq, in her order, noted that the case of the female suspect came within Section 167(4) of the criminal procedure code which states “no woman shall be remanded in police custody unless it is absolutely necessary for the investigation, and in such cases, the investigation shall be conducted under strict supervision within the confines of jail premises”.
The magistrate said that the devices, required for further investigation, were already in the possession of the FIA and the court did not find any sufficient justification for giving her physical custody to the agency.
