Iqrar-ul-Hassan Gets Four-Day NCCIA Remand in PECA Case

A Karachi court has granted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency four days of physical remand of journalist Iqrar-ul-Hassan over alleged social media posts, two days after his family reported that unidentified men took him from his Lahore home.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) produced Iqrar-ul-Hassan, head of Awam Raj Tehreek and former television anchor, before Judicial Magistrate Karachi East-I on Tuesday, October 13. The court approved four days of physical remand after investigators requested 14 days.

The case, registered as FIR No. 101/2026 on October 10, concerns alleged content posted on his accounts on X, Instagram and Facebook. According to the FIR, the agency accused him of sharing false and defamatory material intended to incite the public against the state, its institutions and officials. These remain allegations and have not been established in court.

How Was Iqrar-ul-Hassan Taken From His Lahore Home?

Iqrar’s wife, Farah Iqrar, said unidentified men entered their home in Lahore’s DHA area at around 3am on Monday, October 12. She alleged that the men forced their way inside, pushed her and took her husband away.

According to her account, the group also seized mobile phones, a laptop and the home’s digital video recorder and CCTV equipment. She said a woman in the group wore an NCCIA identification tag.

The incident prompted concern because Iqrar’s whereabouts were initially unclear. His lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, said the NCCIA denied holding him when the matter was raised before a judicial magistrate. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said police had not arrested him and that the matter was being investigated.

Videos Shared by Farah Iqrar, Pehlaaj Hassan, and Waseem Badami

Farah Iqrar shared a video statement describing the late-night incident and the family’s efforts to find her husband. Her account circulated on social media as reports of his disappearance spread. Iqrar’s son Pehlaaj Hassan also shared a video on social media.

Television anchor Waseem Badami also posted a video message on October 12. He said he had received information confirming Iqrar’s arrest, while noting that his whereabouts were not yet known.

Iqrar’s appearance before the Karachi court on October 13 established that he was in NCCIA custody. During the hearing, the magistrate asked whether he had been beaten. According to court reporting, Iqrar replied that he had not. The agency then took him back into custody after securing the four-day remand.