Child pornography suspect seeks post-arrest bail

A man, booked in a child pornography case, approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking directions for his post-arrest bail on Monday.

He was nabbed by the police on the basis of information passed on by the Interpol Washington DC, for allegedly sharing child pornographic content in different groups on social media.

A first information report (FIR) was registered against the accused, Arslan Mughal, on July 2 under section 22 of The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.

The FIR stated that the cybercrime cell in Gujranwala arrested the accused in the case during a raid. Mobile phones and other equipment carrying objectionable photographs, videos as well as child pornography material were also confiscated from him.

However, the petitioner denied the allegations before the court, contending that he had been implicated in a false case. He prayed to the court to grant him post-arrest bail. Legal Awareness Watch (LAW) Director Barrister Sarmad Ali, commenting on the case, stated, “The quantum of punishment administered under the section may be an imprisonment of seven years and a fine of Rs1.2 million.”

He further said that section 22 of PECA 2016 should be amended to tighten the net against those involved in child pornography.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2020.