Lawyer says Lahore court grants Rehan Tariq post-arrest bail

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 21 July 2026 |  JP Staff Report

A Lahore sessions court granted post-arrest bail to journalist and anchor Rehan Tariq on Rs100,000 surety bonds after hearing his defense and the NCCIA. His lawyer said the FIR did not establish an offence and challenged evidence linking him to any upload; the court's written order was not yet independently reviewed.

Summary

LAHORE — A Lahore sessions court has granted post-arrest bail to journalist and anchorperson Rehan Tariq, according to a statement issued Tuesday by his lawyer, Advocate Mian Dawood, following proceedings before Additional Sessions Judge Nasrat Ali Siddiqui.

In a detailed statement posted on X by Mian Dawood Law Associates, Advocate Dawood said the court approved Tariq's bail against surety bonds of Rs100,000 after hearing arguments from both the defense and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). At the time of publication, the court's written order had not been independently reviewed by JournalismPakistan.

Defense challenges prosecution case

According to Dawood, the defense argued that the first information report (FIR) did not establish that Tariq had committed a criminal offense. He maintained that interviewing on historical religious issues is not, by itself, prohibited under Pakistani law and that investigators had failed to produce evidence linking Tariq to the alleged upload of the disputed interview.

The lawyer further alleged that the NCCIA relied on information attributed to a Facebook page called "Rehan Tariq Official," which he said did not exist, while overlooking material available on the official YouTube channel of religious scholar Javad Naqvi, who has not been named as an accused in the case. JournalismPakistan has not independently verified these allegations.

NCCIA opposed bail

Dawood said prosecutors opposed the bail application, arguing that the wording and manner of Tariq's questions during the interview could contribute to religious and sectarian tensions. According to the lawyer's account, investigators defended their decision not to include Naqvi as an accused while urging the court to reject the application.

The defense told the court that higher courts have previously granted bail in comparable religious dispute cases and argued that issues concerning the nature of the alleged offense should be determined during trial rather than at the bail stage. Following arguments from both sides, the court granted post-arrest bail, according to Dawood's statement.

الحمداللہ۔۔۔ ریحان طارق کی ضمانت منظور

سیشن عدالت لاہور نے صحافی اور اینکرپرسن ریحان طارق کی ضمانت بعداز گرفتاری کی درخواست منظور کر لی

ایڈیشنل سیشن جج نصرت علی صدیقی نےریحان طارق کی ضمانت بعداز گرفتاری کی درخواست پر سماعت کی، ریحان طارق کی طرف سے دائود ایڈووکیٹ پیش ہوئے اور… https://t.co/P9K3pPw4Yipic.twitter.com/byXOmbgsla

— Mian Dawood Law Associates (@MDLA2019) July 21, 2026

Case has drawn media attention

The proceedings have attracted attention within Pakistan's media community because they involve a journalist facing criminal charges over interview content. Press freedom advocates have increasingly expressed concern over the use of criminal laws in cases involving journalistic work, while authorities maintain they are enforcing existing legislation.

JournalismPakistan could not immediately obtain an official copy of the court order or a statement from the NCCIA confirming the outcome. The case remains subject to further legal proceedings.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The case underscores the legal risks journalists can face when reporting on sensitive religious issues in Pakistan. It also highlights the importance of transparent investigations, due process, and careful judicial scrutiny in cases involving media professionals and freedom of expression.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan, based on a publicly available statement by Mian Dawood Law Associates on X (July 21, 2026) and previous court reporting.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.