Bail denied in fake video case

Information minister's counsel says clip shared from three accounts of accused

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday dismissed the bail petition of an accused in a case pertaining to sharing a fake video of Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari on social media.

A bench comprising LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum heard the post-arrest bail petition filed by the accused Muhammad Shafique.

The petitioner's counsel submitted that the Federal Investigation Agency had registered a case against his client and others on charges of sharing the fake video on social media. He added that his client had been arrested from Gujranwala on August 3.

The counsel argued that his client had no connection with the case, stating that he had not been initially nominated in the FIR and his name had been added later.

He submitted that two sections in the FIR were bailable, while the third was non-bailable, but it was not applicable to his client. He pleaded with the court to grant his client bail. Azma Bukhari's counsel opposed the bail request, arguing that the accused was directly involved in the case.

He added that the fake video had been shared from three accounts belonging to the accused. He submitted that the accused did not deserve leniency and requested the court to dismiss the bail petition.

In response to a court query, a law officer submitted that forensic analysis of a mobile phone belonging to the accused had confirmed the sharing of the fake video.

After hearing the arguments, the court dismissed the post-arrest bail application of the accused.