Pakistani court extends journalist Asad Toor’s remand in anti-judiciary campaign case

ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad district and sessions court on Wednesday extended journalist Asad Toor’s physical remand by two days, his lawyer confirmed, in a case where he is accused of running a campaign against the judiciary on social media. 
Toor, a reporter who is also a popular video blogger in Pakistan, was arrested on Feb 26 on charges of orchestrating a campaign against the state and its officials, with the “objective to coerce, intimidate, and incite violence” against them through his social media platforms. He was presented in court a day later, after which his remand was extended for five days. 
In January, Pakistan’s caretaker government formed a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe a “malicious” social media campaign against Pakistani judges. The decision was taken after the Supreme Court decided to uphold a ruling by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to strip the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of its election symbol. The decision was criticized by Khan supporters, journalists and political analysts on social media. 
In recent months, several of Toor’s posts and videos have been critical of government agencies, Pakistan’s military establishment and the Supreme Court.
Toor’s lawyer, Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir wrote on social media platform X that she would challenge the court’s decision to extend her client’s remand. 
“Completely unfair and unnecessary extension of 2 days remand by Judicial Magistrate in Asad Toor’s case,” Mazari-Hazir wrote. 
“We will be challenging this order in revision. Our case is also fixed for hearing before Islamabad High Court tomorrow morning.”
Pakistani media bodies, including the Press Association of the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court Journalists Association last week filed a joint petition requesting the top court to cancel the JIT probing the alleged campaign against the judiciary.
Leading Pakistani media bodies have urged the government and judiciary to intervene to stop what they say is growing censorship and pressure from state institutions. 
A media crackdown that began after the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan in April 2022 and his very public falling out with the all-powerful army has morphed into widespread self-censorship by journalists fearful of repercussions if they criticize the state’s policies.
Pakistan’s military and other state institutions deny allegations they pressure media groups.