Decision Reserved on Physical Remand Request for PTI Spokespersons Rauf Hassan and Aruba Kanwal

Islamabad: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has presented PTI spokesperson Rauf Hassan before the court upon completion of a 3-day physical remand. In Islamabad’s District and Session Courts, FIA brought PTI spokesperson Rof Hassan and others under the PECA Act for a hearing before Duty Judge Mureed Abbas upon completion of their 3-day physical remand.
PTI social media activist Syeda Aruba Kanwal was also presented to obtain a physical remand. Aruba Kanwal was arrested by FIA yesterday. The prosecutor stated that transcripts of state-opposed videos are on record, requiring further 8 days of physical remand.
Judge Mureed Abbas inquired whether Rof Hassan had received a visa or ticket from India, acknowledging a chat with an individual named Rahul. The FIA prosecutor responded affirmatively that Rauf Hassan had received a travel ticket from India.
Rof Hassan responded, “I operate a regional think tank; Rahul, who resides in the UK, invited me to Bahrain as a guest speaker. I am a senior fellow at King’s College London. My responsibility involves dealing with electronic media, and I do not handle social media.”
The FIA prosecutor disclosed that Aruba handles PTI’s ex-accounts on social media but has not yet surrendered them. PTI’s lawyer clarified that she manages PTI’s social media accounts as an employee, and the entire case revolves around WhatsApp messages, while all mobile phones are in FIA custody.
Advocate Ali Bukhari requested the discharge of Rof Hassan and other arrested individuals from the case. After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its decision on the request for physical remand.