KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Monday rejected the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency’s (NCCIA) plea to extend the physical remand of anchorperson Iqrarul Hassan and sent him to prison on judicial remand in a case pertaining to the alleged dissemination of anti-state content on social media.
The court also issued notices to the NCCIA on a bail application filed by defence counsel Barrister Mian Ali Ashfaq and fixed the matter for hearing on Oct 21.
After the completion of Mr Hassan’s physical remand, an NCCIA official produced him before Judicial Magistrate (East) Gulraiz Memon and sought an extension of his physical custody by another eight days for questioning.
A large number of his supporters and social media content creators escorted the anchorperson from the entrance of the City Courts premises to the courtroom gate.
Due to the crowd of lawyers and members of the public, police barred regular court reporters from entering the courtroom to witness the hearing.
In its remand report, the NCCIA said the investigation had progressed, but several important aspects remained to be examined in light of the forensic analysis of Mr Hassan’s seized digital devices and records from other departments, including the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).
‘No cogent reason’
Defence counsel Ashfaq argued that his client had not crossed constitutional boundaries in the video uploaded on his official social media accounts.
He said the NCCIA already had possession of the digital devices and there was no need to extend his client’s physical custody. He also alleged that the agency had failed to demonstrate progress in the investigation.After hearing both sides, the court sent Mr Hassan to prison on judicial remand and directed the investigation officer to submit the interim charge sheet within the stipulated period.
The court observed that the NCCIA had been given “sufficient time of physical custody” but had provided “no cogent reason” for seeking an extension. It remanded the suspect to judicial custody until Oct 26.
The court also noted that Mr Hassan had not complained of “any maltreatment at the hands of police”.
Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2026
