Journalist Sohrab Barakat case sparks new remand twist over alleged editorial responsibility

The Journalist Sohrab Barakat case has taken a new turn after a Lahore District Court approved a four-day physical remand for the journalist. The remand was granted to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in a case linked to remarks made during an interview with Activist Sanam Javaid on a private TV channel.

The case was heard by Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Naeem Wattoo. According to the FIR, Barakat had interviewed Sanam Javaid, but his lawyer argued that Barakat neither owned the channel nor made any remarks himself. The lawyer said the channel, “Politics Drop PK,” was run by someone named Adeel. Barakat only hosted the interview, and all remarks were made by Sanam Javaid.

The lawyer added that Barakat had been stopped from travelling abroad earlier in November. The FIA told the Islamabad court that he was not wanted in any case. Despite this, Barakat was arrested again at the Islamabad airport the next night. The lawyer said the NCCIA did not present any transit remand.

During the hearing, the NCCIA officer said the remand was needed to extract data from Barakat’s phone and find out who operated the channel. Barakat told the court that the interview was recorded in the morning but aired at night, and the editorial team should have removed anything objectionable.

The court noted that Barakat made no remarks himself. It questioned the NCCIA on why he was kept overnight before being presented. The officer asked for up to 30 days of remand, but the court allowed only four days.

The Journalist Sohrab Barakat case continues to raise concerns over procedure and media responsibility.