Journalist Asad Ali Toor has been released from Adiala Jail following the approval of his bail by an Islamabad trial court on Saturday.
Toor had been held in custody for his alleged involvement in an online campaign against the judiciary.
The case stemmed from the establishment of a joint investigation team (JIT) by the caretaker government in January, tasked with probing an alleged social media campaign against the judiciary.
This investigation was prompted by the Supreme Court’s decision to strip the PTI party of its bat symbol.
Toor was questioned by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials for nearly eight hours on February 23, despite previous assurances that no action would be taken against journalists before the general elections.
Subsequently, Toor was arrested on February 26 under charges outlined in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, allegedly for launching a malicious campaign against state institutions. This led to his remand into custody and eventual imprisonment.
The Islamabad High Court intervened in the case, ordering an expedited bail hearing for Toor. Originally scheduled for March 18, the hearing was moved forward due to the investigating officer’s illness.
Amidst this legal drama, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called for Toor’s immediate release, highlighting concerns over press freedom in Pakistan.
During today’s hearing presided over by Special Judge Central Humayun Dilawar, Toor’s bail plea was presented by Advocates Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chatha. The court, upon reviewing the case records and the acknowledgment of the Supreme Court’s observation regarding journalists and social media campaigns against superior judges, approved Toor’s bail against surety bonds of Rs5,000.
