Journalist Asad Toor sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand

Journalist Asad Toor was sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand on Friday in a case pertaining to an online campaign against the judiciary.

Judicial Magistrate Shabbir Bhatti sent the journalist to Adiala Jail on a 14-day judicial remand, rejecting the FIA’s plea seeking a four-day extension in physical remand.

On Wednesday, the court extended Asad Toor’s remand for two days.

The journalist-turned-YouTuber was taken into custody on Feb 26 and remanded to FIA custody for five days.

Three days earlier, On February 23, Toor was interrogated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for nearly eight hours on the same matter.

According to the first information report, Asad Toor has been booked under Sections 9, 10 and 24 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), which deal with the offences of glorification of an offence, cyber terrorism and cyberstalking.

The FIR stated that Asad Toor “built a false narrative” and publically launched a “malicious/obnoxious and explicit campaign” against “civil servants/government officials and state institutions”.

A five-member joint investigation team was formed earlier this year to “ascertain facts behind a malicious social media campaign” against the judiciary in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision to deprive the PTI of its iconic ‘bat’ symbol.