April 28, 2025
By Rehan Piracha
LAHORE
A court in Quetta on Monday granted bail to journalist and social media activist Bayazid Khan Kharoti, in a defamation case lodged against him by Senator Mir Dostain Khan Domki under PECA Amendment law.
The FIA arrested Kharoti on April 24 when he appeared before FIA officials in connection with the notice relating to the complaint lodged by PML-N Senator Domki from Balochistan. A court in Quetta had remanded him in custody of the FIA for four days till April 28.
According to the FIR registered by the FIA, Kharoti was accused of ‘disseminating defamatory content and false news against the complainant (Senator Domki) through a WhatsApp group titled ‘Choti Chiria ‘ operated by him. The FIA notes that verification of the alleged content from the Communication and Works Department, Government of Balochistan, confirmed that the disseminated information was devoid of factual basis and had no merit. The FIR does not describe content that was deemed defamatory by the senator. Kharoti was charged with offences under section 20 (offence against dignity of natural person) and 26 A (punishment for false and fake news) of the PECA 2016.
Ali Ahmed Kakar, counsel for Bayazid Khan Kharoti, told Voicepk.net that the FIA officials neither provided any concrete evidence of the alleged defamatory material nor provided a copy of the complaint in which the senator had outlined content that amounted to defamation.
In his response to the FIA notice, Kharoti said FIA officials that he previously had been shown a screenshot about his report that the secretary of Communication and Works Department had issued notices to road contractors to complete their projects on time. Kharoti questioned FIA officials about whether his report stating that Senator Domki had filed a privilege motion against the secretary of Communication and Works Department amounted to defamation. In his reply to the FIA, Kharoti had submitted a copy of Domki’s letter to the Senate chairman written in December 2024 as well as the copy of Senate notice on January 13 in which the secretary was summoned for hearing. The senator did not attend the hearing on that day, Kharoti added in his reply.
On Monday, the FIA produced Kharoti before the court and sought his further remand for 14 days. However, the court did not accept the FIA request for physical remand and sent him to jail in judicial custody, Kakar said. Meanwhile, the court also conducted hearing regarding Kharoti’s bail application in the said case. After hearing arguments from the prosecution and defence lawyers, the court granted bail to Kharoti on Rs 100,000 surety bonds. Kakar was released after his legal team posted the surety bond.
According to Kakar, his client is being targeted for his critical reporting exposing corruption and connivance in development projects in Balochistan. In order to pressurise Khorati, the FIA also lodged a case accusing him of human smuggling. However, Khorati was also granted bail in that case four days ago. Voicepk.net contacted Senator Domki for comments relating to his case against Kharoti but his phone was switched off.