LAHORE: The National Cyber Crime Agency (NCCI) on Friday released a journalist a few hours after detaining him for questioning.

As per initial reports, Khurram Iqbal, a producer with Hum News, was reportedly picked up by unidentified men from his sister’s home in Lahore around 1pm. Subsequently, there was an uproar on social media, with many demanding information on the journalist’s whereabouts.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) had called on federal and provincial authorities, including the interior and information ministries, to take urgent action for Iqbal’s safe release.

The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors had also condemned the journalist’s alleged abduction and called for his release.

The statement said that, according to Iqbal’s family, armed men in plainclothes whisked him away from his sister’s residence. It also expressed concern over the “growing trend” of harassment of journalists.

Meanwhile, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Usman Anwar and Lahore Operations Deputy Inspector General Faisal Kamran had denied any action against the journalist in question when contacted.

Similarly, officials from the provincial government had also not issued any public statement regarding the matter.

However, it later emerged that Iqbal was in the custody of the NCCIA, which released him around 9pm.

Requesting anonymity, a senior official of the NCCIA confirmed to Dawn that Iqbal was with the agency for questioning.

However, he did not give any information regarding the charges the journalist was facing or why he was questioned.