LAHORE: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) reportedly released a journalist associated with a local news channel a few hours after he was picked up from Lahore.
As per the initial reports, Khurram Iqbal, a producer at the Islamabad bureau of Hum News was reportedly picked up by ‘unidentified men’ from his sister’s home in Lahore on Friday around 1pm.
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Usman Anwar and Lahore DIG (operations) Faisal Kamran denied any action against the journalist when Dawn contacted them.
Similarly, officials from the Punjab government didn’t issue any public statement on the case though the news about the missing journalist spread on the social media while his family members were very worried for being unable to locate him for hours.
Khurram was picked up from his sister’s residence in Lahore
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Association of Electronic Media Editors & News Directors (AEMEND) called on federal and provincial authorities, including the interior and information ministries, to take urgent action for his safe release.
A few hours later, it transpired that Khurram was with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency officials and they released him at around 9pm.
Requesting anonymity, a senior official of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency later confirmed to Dawn that Khurram Iqbal was with them for questioning.
However, the official didn’t disclose information regarding any charges against the journalist or reasons for the questioning.
Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2026
