KARACHI: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on Tuesday presented journalist Iqrarul Hassan before a judicial magistrate at Karachi’s City Court in a case involving allegations of spreading anti-state content on social media. The court granted the agency four days of physical remand for further investigation.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the case was registered by NCCIA Inspector Muhammad Ali Khan under Sections 9, 10, 20, 24 and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.
The FIR alleged that Hassan used his accounts on X, Instagram and Facebook to circulate false, fabricated and defamatory material targeting the state, its institutions and officials, allegedly with the intention of provoking public sentiment against them.
During the hearing, the magistrate asked Hassan whether he had been subjected to torture. He responded that he had not been beaten. When asked about legal representation, the journalist said he had not yet hired a lawyer.
The NCCIA requested a 14-day physical remand, stating that further interrogation was required. However, the court approved only four days. The FIR also named Assistant Director Rana Muhammad Faisal Munir as the investigating officer.
The development followed uncertainty surrounding Hassan’s whereabouts after his wife, Farah Iqrar, alleged that unidentified individuals posing as NCCIA officials took him from their residence in Lahore’s Defence C area late Sunday night.
Farah said five to seven people, including women, arrived at their home and allegedly threatened to force entry before taking Hassan away. She later contacted the agency to seek information about his whereabouts but said she received no response.
She also reported submitting an application to the Defence C police station regarding the alleged abduction and attempting to register an online FIR.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari had earlier stated that Punjab Police had not arrested Hassan and that inquiries were ongoing.
Hours before the reported incident, Hassan had posted on X criticising the Pakistan Peoples Party and mentioning Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari.
