KARACHI: A sessions court on Monday issued notices to the investigating officer (IO) and the prosecutor in a plea challenging the dismissal of Iqrarul Hassan`s bail application in a case pertaining to the alleged dissemination of anti-state content on social media.

Mr Hassan was arrested at his home in Lahore but produced in a Karachi court in connection with a case registered here against him for allegedly disseminating anti-state, false and defamatory content on social media. He was booked under multiple provisions, including cyber terrorism, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).

He applied for bail; however, it was rejected by the concerned judicial magistrate, observing that releasing him at this stage would pose a `real risk of obstruction` to the ongoing investigation.

On Monday, one of Mr Hassan`s defence counsel, Advocate Shahid Hussain Korejo, told Dawn that they had filed a plea on his behalf challenging the magistrate`s impugned order dismissing his bail.

He added that, after a preliminary hearing, the Sessions Court (East) issued notices to the IO and the prosecutor against the plea and directed them to appear on Oct 28 along with the case file.

Earlier, in its order, the magistrate noted that the impugned video of Mr Hassan went `beyond legitimate criticism or commentary and amounted to the glorification of convicts sentenced by competent judicial courts.

The order added that glorifying convictedoffenders on public digital forums, coupled with calls challenging constitutional implementation, directly attracts the penal provisions of Section 9 (Glorification of an offence) of Peca, which forms the underlying predicate for the statutory charge under Section 10 (Cyber terrorism) of the Act.

The court noted thatthe recovery of the digital devices from Mr Hassan allegedly connected him with the operational control of the social media accounts in question.

The judge observed that freedom of speech under Article 19 of the Constitution is a `cherished fundamental right; it is expressly subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law in theinterest of the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan, public order and decency.

He noted that the freedom of expression cannot be converted into an `unbridled license to undermine state institutions, spread fabricated narratives, or incite public disaffection against Constitutional functionaries.