An Islamabad court on Sunday granted a one-day physical remand to YouTuber Sohrab Barkat, arrested on June 6 for allegedly uploading false and intimidating content about the political situation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had requested a 10-day remand; the court ordered Barkat to be produced again on Monday.
Why was Sohrab Barkat arrested over Pakistan-administered Kashmir content?
Barkat was arrested under Sections 20 and 26-A of Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. Authorities allege he uploaded a video on June 5 promoting the narrative of the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and containing statements likely to incite public discontent. The NCCIA said the content was widely disseminated and capable of causing fear, panic, and unrest.
What charges does Barkat face under PECA?
Section 20 of PECA criminalizes the intentional public dissemination of information known to be false that harms the reputation or privacy of a person, commonly referred to as cyber defamation. Section 26-A criminalizes the intentional spread of false information through any information system that is likely to cause fear, panic, or disorder in society. Both charges stem from FIR No. 87/2026 filed against Barkat.
According to the FIR, the content in question was posted on Barkat's YouTube channels "Sohrab Barkat" and "Sohrab Barkat Official." Authorities claim the video promoted narratives tied to the JAAC and could disturb public order. The NCCIA presented Barkat before Duty Magistrate Mian Muhammad Azhar Nadeem at the Islamabad West judicial complex, requesting a 10-day remand for interrogation and recovery of electronic devices.
What is the broader situation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir?
The arrest comes as a standoff between the JAAC and the Azad Kashmir government deepens. The Azad Kashmir government listed the JAAC under anti-terror laws last week, accusing it of "creating anarchy." The group has rejected the designation as politically motivated and vowed to press ahead with a mass rally on June 9.
Seventy-two JAAC members were detained on Saturday. The group has led protests across Pakistan-administered Kashmir since at least 2023, demanding lower energy prices, free healthcare, and the abolition of 12 legislative seats reserved for Kashmiris who relocated from what is now India-administered Kashmir. Demonstrations turned deadly in September, when nine people were killed during violent clashes between police and protesters.
Pakistan's Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, said on Sunday that 35 of the group's 38 demands had already been met. "It's negative and false propaganda that government hasn't addressed the demands," he told a press conference. The case against Barkat remains under investigation.
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