Pakistani podcaster Rehan Tariq denied bail in Lahore blasphemy case

A Lahore district court dismissed podcaster Rehan Tariq’s post‑arrest bail petition in a case filed under Pakistan’s blasphemy and electronic‑crime laws. Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo ruled after hearing arguments from both sides, while the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) opposed the bail request.

The case, registered under PECA sections 11‑C, 295‑A and 298, alleges that material shared in a podcast interview with religious scholar Syed Jawad Naqvi hurt religious sentiments and could incite sectarian tension. Tariq was arrested by NCCIA upon returning from London and earlier placed on a six‑day physical remand. His lawyer argued that the sections were bailable and that the remarks did not constitute blasphemy, but the court rejected the plea.