Supreme Court of Pakistan grants bail to Sohrab Barkat

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 18 February 2026 |  JP Staff Report

The Supreme Court granted bail to journalist Sohrab Barkat in FIR No. 179/2025, yet he remains in custody after authorities sought cancellation in a separate FIR (No. 330/2025); his legal team has challenged the revocation before the Islamabad High Court.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday granted bail to journalist Sohrab Barkat in one of the cases registered against him, marking a significant development in his prolonged detention that has spanned more than 80 days.

The decision was confirmed by his lawyer, Saad Rasool, who announced the development publicly and said the top court had approved bail in FIR No. 179/2025, a request that had earlier been rejected by the Lahore High Court.

Bail granted, but custody continues

Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, Barkat was not released. According to Rasool, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency moved in advance to have Barkat’s bail cancelled in another case, FIR No. 330/2025, through an order issued last week by a lower court presided over by Judge Majhoka.

Rasool stated that the cancellation order has been challenged before the Islamabad High Court, which has issued notices in the matter for hearing next week. He described the latest development as encouraging but said legal hurdles remain before Barkat can secure release.

Finally, some encouraging news!

The honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan has granted @SohrabBarkatt bail in FIR # 179/2025 (which has earlier been rejected by the Lahore High Court).

Today, Sohrab would have been released.

However, anticipating this outcome, last week NCCIA got… https://t.co/QPROqOvhACpic.twitter.com/ygXpc1zLQu

— Saad Rasool (@SaadRasooll) February 18, 2026

Multiple FIRs and ongoing proceedings

Barkat, an Islamabad-based journalist, was arrested in connection with three separate FIRs linked to his reporting. Before Wednesday’s decision, he had secured bail in two of the three cases but remained incarcerated due to overlapping proceedings and the revocation of one bail order.

His legal team has argued in court filings that the cancellation of bail contradicts established Supreme Court jurisprudence, under which bail may be revoked only in exceptional circumstances. These typically include misuse of bail, interference with the investigation or prosecution, commission of a new offense, risk of absconding, or the emergence of new grounds justifying arrest.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency sought cancellation of one of Barkat’s existing bail in anticipation of a possible Supreme Court decision in his favor in the third case. Judge Majhoka’s order revoking bail was issued despite the defense maintaining that there was no evidence of bail misuse or obstruction of justice.

Legal proceedings in the related cases remain ongoing in the Islamabad High Court and subordinate courts.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The case underscores how overlapping FIRs and bail cancellations can prolong detention even after relief from higher courts. For Pakistani journalists and media organizations, it highlights the legal complexities reporters may face when multiple cases are filed over reporting, as well as the strategic use of bail cancellation petitions in high-profile matters.

ATTRIBUTION: Information in this report is based on public statements by lawyer Saad Rasool, court proceedings before the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Islamabad High Court, and publicly available case records.

PHOTO: Screenshot from Sohrab Barkat’s official YouTube channel.