A district court in Islamabad on Tuesday extended the pre-arrest bail of journalist Razi Tahir until June 23 after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) failed to produce the case record before the court.
ISLAMABAD (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 16th Jun, 2026) A district court in Islamabad on Tuesday extended the pre-arrest bail of journalist Razi Tahir until June 23 after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) failed to produce the case record before the court.
Judge Afzal Majoka granted the extension and directed the investigating officer to appear at the next hearing with the complete record of the case.
Razi Tahir is facing charges under Sections 20 and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.
The case was registered by the NCCIA, which alleges that the journalist shared content on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that authorities described as “misleading” and capable of inciting hostility against state institutions.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Razi Tahir’s social media posts were accused of creating public unrest and fostering distrust toward state institutions.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Advocate Bina Faraz represented Razi Tahir before the court and argued on his behalf, seeking continuation of the protective bail granted earlier by the district court.
Separately, documents available to the media show that Faisal Bank informed Razi Tahir that his bank account had been temporarily blocked on the instructions of cybercrime authorities. The bank advised him to contact the relevant authorities to seek the removal of the restriction.
Sources said that following the registration of the case, law enforcement officials conducted raids at various locations in an attempt to arrest the journalist.
However, Razi Tahir was not taken into custody. Last week, the District Court granted him an eight-day pre-arrest bail, preventing his immediate arrest.
The NCCIA also reportedly sought court approval to search and seal Razi Tahir’s office and attempted to obtain warrants for the action.
However, the District Magistrate declined to approve the request, halting any move to seal the premises.
The case has drawn attention from media circles and press freedom advocates, who are closely monitoring the legal proceedings against the journalist. The next hearing is scheduled for June 23, when the NCCIA has been directed to submit the complete case record before the court.
