The journalist and Awam Raj Tehreek chief was produced before a Karachi court after his family reported he had been taken from his Lahore home.
Web Desk: A Karachi court has granted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) four days of physical remand of television anchorperson and Awam Raj Tehreek chief Iqrar-ul-Hassan in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), according to media reports.
Iqrar-ul-Hassan was produced before a judicial magistrate in Karachi’s East district on Tuesday. The agency had reportedly requested 14 days of physical remand for questioning, but the court granted four days.
Journalist Reportedly Taken From Lahore Residence
The court proceedings followed reports that Iqrar-ul-Hassan had been taken from his residence in Lahore during the early hours of Monday.
His wife, Farah Iqrar, alleged that unidentified individuals entered the family home at around 3am and took him away. She also claimed that the group seized mobile phones, a laptop and CCTV recording equipment.
Farah said some members of the group had identification markings associated with the NCCIA. These details were allegations made by the family and should not be treated as independently established facts.
NCCIA and Punjab Police Initially Denied Arrest
In its initial reporting on October 12, Geo News reported that Iqrar-ul-Hassan’s family did not know his whereabouts.
His lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, said the NCCIA had denied holding him when the issue was raised before a judicial magistrate. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari also said the Punjab Police had not arrested him and that the matter was being investigated.
Subsequent reports on October 13 said Iqrar-ul-Hassan had been produced before a Karachi court and that the NCCIA had obtained physical remand. The later court development changed the status of the earlier missing-person reports.
Case Registered Under PECA
According to reports published on Tuesday, the NCCIA registered a case against Iqrar-ul-Hassan under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. The agency sought time to question him during physical remand.
