Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has clarified that police did not arrest television anchorperson Iqrarul Hassan, adding that the matter is under investigation.
In a video statement, Farah Iqrar said she and her husband were at their residence in Lahore’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) when a group of men in plain clothes allegedly broke open the main gate and entered the premises at around 3am before taking Hassan away.
She alleged that the men manhandled her during the operation and confiscated two mobile phones belonging to her husband, a laptop and her own mobile phone.
Farah further claimed that a masked woman among the raiding party was wearing an identification tag bearing the name of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
Hassan has been critical of government policies on social media.
His lawyer, Advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq, said the NCCIA had denied arresting the anchorperson.
Ashfaq also maintained that Hassan had not made any anti-state remarks. He said legal action would be initiated to secure his safe recovery.
“We will move the Lahore High Court for his safe recovery,” the lawyer said.
