LAHORE: A Lahore court on Wednesday sent podcaster Rehan Tariq on a six-day physical remand in connection with a blasphemy and cybercrime case, allowing investigators additional time to examine digital evidence and continue their inquiry.
Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo approved the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency’s (NCCIA) request for physical custody, directing investigators to produce the suspect before the court after the remand period ends. The court also instructed the agency to submit a progress report at the next hearing.
According to the prosecution, the case was registered on the complaint of Cyber Crime Deputy Director Rizwan Sabir under Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, which relates to acts intended to outrage religious feelings, along with relevant provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
Investigators told the court that Rehan Tariq was taken into custody by officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the NCCIA upon his arrival at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport from the United Kingdom on Tuesday night. Authorities said his name had already been placed on the no-fly list, leading to his detention at the airport.
During the hearing, the investigation team informed the magistrate that multiple written complaints had been received from religious groups regarding allegedly controversial content shared through Tariq’s podcast. Officials specifically referred to an interview conducted with religious scholar Jawad Naqvi, which they said was among the material under investigation.
The prosecution requested a seven-day physical remand, arguing that investigators needed more time to examine the suspect’s digital accounts, seize and analyze his mobile phone, recover the original podcast recordings, and collect other electronic evidence relevant to the case.
After hearing the arguments, the court granted a six-day physical remand instead of the full seven days requested by the investigators.
Before being presented in court under tight security, Rehan Tariq and a small number of supporters chanted "Pakistan Zindabad" as he exited the police vehicle outside the district courts.
The case comes as Pakistani authorities continue to intensify action against alleged online blasphemous content under existing cybercrime and criminal laws. The investigation remains ongoing, and no findings regarding the allegations have been made by the court at this stage. The next hearing is expected after the expiry of the six-day remand, when investigators will present an updated progress report.
