Karachi court extends Iqrarul Hassan’s remand by two days

A Karachi judicial magistrate has extended journalist Iqrarul Hassan’s physical remand for another two days in a case involving allegations of disseminating anti-state content on social media.

The judicial magistrate (East) rejected an application filed by Hassan’s defence lawyers and directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to submit a report at the next hearing.

Hassan was initially presented before the court last week and handed over to the NCCIA on a four-day physical remand. On Thursday, a District and Sessions Court in Karachi dismissed a petition challenging his remand. His defence counsel had questioned the legality of the proceedings and argued that the case involved digital and cyber-related matters.

The case has been registered under Sections 9, 10, 20, 24 and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. According to the first information report (FIR), Hassan allegedly used his personal accounts on X, Instagram and Facebook to publish content described by investigators as false, fabricated, anti-state and defamatory.

The FIR alleges that his social media posts presented the state, its institutions and their officials in a distorted manner. It further claims that the content portrayed lawful government actions as controversial and was intended to provoke public opposition to state institutions and legally established authorities.

Investigators also alleged that Hassan used his social media following to spread the material among audiences in Pakistan and abroad. These claims form part of the allegations against the journalist and have not been established as proven facts in court.

The circumstances surrounding Hassan’s reported arrest have also drawn attention. His wife, Farah Iqrar, said on October 12 that unidentified individuals claiming to be NCCIA officials had taken him from their residence in Lahore’s Defence C area.

According to her account, between five and seven people, including women, arrived at the house late on Sunday night. She alleged that they demanded that Hassan come outside and threatened to break down the door if he was not handed over. The individuals subsequently entered the house and took him away from a room.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari later said that the Punjab Police had not arrested Hassan. She added that an investigation was underway and that his family would be informed once verified information about his whereabouts became available.

Hours before the reported incident, Hassan had published a post on X criticising the Pakistan Peoples Party and referring to Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari.