Renowned columnist and analyst Orya Maqbool Jan was released from jail on Wednesday after the Lahore High Court granted him bail in a cybercrime case. Justice Ali Zia Bajwa approved Jan’s bail on Tuesday, paving the way for his release.
Jan was initially arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on August 22, 2024, in Lahore. Following his arrest, a Lahore district court granted the FIA a four-day physical remand to investigate allegations against him.
Orya Maqbool previous bail denial
On September 3, a sessions court in Lahore rejected Jan’s bail application in the cybercrime case. A day later, the FIA re-arrested him on charges of spreading religious hatred.
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On September 5, Orya Maqbool Jan was sent to jail on judicial remand in the religious hatred case. His lawyer, Azhar Siddique, confirmed his release in a tweet, saying Jan was now free after months in detention.
Jan’s arrests followed allegations of cybercrime and incitement of religious hatred. The cases drew widespread attention due to his prominence as a columnist and analyst. The FIA has yet to comment on his release or the status of the investigations.
