Television anchor Iqrarul Hassan has been remanded to judicial custody until October 26 in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), after a Karachi court declined the cybercrime agency’s request for an extension of his physical remand.
Hassan was brought before Karachi East Judicial Magistrate-I Gulraiz Memon on Monday following the completion of his six-day physical remand. Barrister Mian Ali Ashfaq represented the television personality in court.
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which had been holding Hassan in custody, requested an additional eight days of physical remand to continue its investigation.
However, Magistrate Memon observed that the agency had already been given sufficient time to question the accused and had failed to provide compelling grounds for extending his physical custody. The court consequently ordered that Hassan be transferred to judicial custody until October 26.
The magistrate also noted that Hassan had not reported any mistreatment by the police during his detention.
In its remand report submitted under Section 167 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the NCCIA maintained that although progress had been made in the investigation, several important aspects remained unresolved.
The agency said further inquiries were required in light of forensic findings from Hassan’s confiscated digital devices, as well as records expected from other departments, including the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).
According to the NCCIA, Hassan shared a video on his official X, Instagram and Facebook accounts on October 10 that allegedly contained false, fabricated, anti-state and defamatory material. The agency claimed the content was intended to provoke public sentiment against the state, its institutions and government officials.
The NCCIA further alleged that the posts portrayed lawful actions as controversial and glorified convicted individuals in a manner intended to encourage public dissent against state authorities.
The agency argued that the material was publicly accessible and could influence audiences both within Pakistan and overseas. It also claimed the content posed a threat to the country’s unity, integrity and public order.
Hassan was booked in the October 10 case under Sections 9, 10, 24 and 26A of PECA. These provisions concern the glorification of an offence, cyberterrorism, cyberstalking, and the dissemination of false or fake information, respectively.
The television anchor had previously criticised government policies on social media. The allegations against him remain claims made by the investigating agency.
