Raoof Hasan, the Information Secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been taken into custody by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in connection with a terrorism case, intensifying the legal challenges faced by the party. Hasan’s arrest follows his ongoing judicial remand related to a digital anti-state campaign, further complicating the PTI’s legal situation.
On Tuesday, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad granted the CTD a two-day physical remand of Hasan. This decision comes in the wake of a district and sessions court’s earlier order, which had placed Hasan and several others on a 14-day judicial remand for allegedly orchestrating an anti-state social media propaganda network.
Hasan’s arrest is linked to statements made by Ahmad Waqas Janjua, PTI’s coordinator for international media coverage, who has been detained in a separate case involving arms recovery. According to the prosecutor, Janjua revealed during his interrogation that Hasan allegedly provided him with Rs300,000 to “spread terror.” This revelation prompted the CTD to pursue Hasan in this new terrorism-related case.
The sequence of events began on July 22, when a combined team from the police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) raided the PTI secretariat in Islamabad. Hasan, along with PTI’s acting chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Janjua, was taken into custody. While Khan was subsequently released, Hasan’s situation has since escalated with the addition of terrorism charges.
During Tuesday’s court proceedings, the ATC was requested to grant a five-day physical remand for further interrogation. The court was informed that Hasan’s involvement was based on Janjua’s statements about a terror-mongering network. The defense raised concerns about the timing of Hasan’s arrest, noting that he had been under FIA custody until recently. The ATC judge clarified that Hasan was “made a part of the investigation” from the court’s compound.
The prosecutor emphasized that Hasan’s arrest was justified due to the terror-related charges, despite the fact that Hasan was already facing charges in the FIA case. The allegations against him involve a substantial sum of money intended for spreading terror, according to Janjua’s confession.
In addition to Hasan’s case, the FIA has charged a total of 12 suspects in relation to the anti-state campaign. These charges include sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), such as glorification of an offense and cyber-terrorism. The suspects, including Afaq Ahmed Alvi, Hameedullah, Rashid Mahmood, and others, face accusations of hate speech and other offenses linked to their digital activities.
Hasan’s defense counsel, Ali Bukhari, argued against the necessity of physical remand, suggesting that the recovery of evidence, including financial records, was not dependent on Hasan’s physical custody. Bukhari also pointed out that Hasan’s electronic devices were already with the FIA.
The ATC judge has ordered the CTD to present Hasan in court on August 2, with specific instructions to ensure his well-being, including daily medical check-ups due to his reported health issues.
The legal troubles of PTI and its leadership extend beyond Hasan. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who leads PTI, has been incarcerated for approximately a year. Despite recent acquittals on several convictions, Khan was rearrested on charges related to the unlawful sale of state gifts and inciting attacks on military installations. Khan denies all charges, and his party contends that the legal actions against him are politically motivated, aimed at keeping him out of power.
The PTI, despite these challenges, secured the largest number of seats in the February parliamentary elections, a victory the party attributes to widespread public support amid a perceived military-backed crackdown.
Raoof Hasan’s recent arrest by the CTD adds to the complex legal landscape faced by PTI. The terrorism charges against Hasan, based on statements from co-accused Janjua, reflect a broader pattern of legal challenges for the party. As the legal process unfolds, the situation remains dynamic, with significant implications for PTI and its leadership.
