The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday arrested three individuals in connection with a case pertaining to the publishing of blasphemous content on social media being heard by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The three were presented before an anti-terrorism court and handed over to the FIA for a seven-day remand.

The laptops of those arrested have also been seized for forensic analysis.

Justice Shaukut Aziz Siddiqui of the IHC has been hearing a petition seeking the removal of blasphemous content from social media.

Earlier this week, the interior ministry informed the court that one arrest had been made in connection with the case, while the names of several others have been put on the Exit Control List.

The case has generated considerable attention at the government level.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif earlier this month directed the state machinery to find those responsible for putting blasphemous content on social media and bring them to justice without delay.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said Pakistan will represent the global Muslim community on having blasphemous content removed from social media platforms and take the fight to "any extent necessary" in order to get the message across.

On March 16, the National Assembly also passed a resolution condemning blasphemous content posted on social media and unanimously agreed to the formation of a committee of parliamentary leaders to monitor such content.

Opinion

A long week

A long week

There’s some wariness about the excitement surrounding this moment of international glory.

Editorial

Unlearnt lessons
Updated 28 Apr, 2026

Unlearnt lessons

THE US is undoubtedly the world’s top military and economic power at this time. Yet as the Iran quagmire has ...
Solar vision?
28 Apr, 2026

Solar vision?

THE recent imposition of certain regulatory requirements for small-scale solar systems, followed by the reversal of...
Breaking malaria’s grip
28 Apr, 2026

Breaking malaria’s grip

FOR the first time in decades, defeating malaria in our lifetime is possible, according to WHO. Yet in Pakistan,...
Pathways to peace
Updated 27 Apr, 2026

Pathways to peace

NEGOTIATIONS to hammer out the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement took nearly two years before a breakthrough was achieved....
Food-insecure nation
27 Apr, 2026

Food-insecure nation

A NEW UN-backed report has listed Pakistan among 10 countries where acute food insecurity is most concentrated. This...
Migration toll
27 Apr, 2026

Migration toll

THE world should not be deceived by a global migration count lower than the highest annual statistics on record —...