Govt denies role as anchorperson Iqrarul Hassan ‘picked up’ in Lahore

LAHORE: Men in plainclothes, including one wearing an identification tag from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), allegedly detained anchorperson Iqrarul Hassan from his home in the early hours of Monday, according to his family. Punjab minister Azma Bokhari later clarified that the police had not arrested Mr Hassan and that the matter was under investigation.

In a video, Farah Iqrar stated that she and her husband were at their DHA residence when men in plainclothes forcefully entered their premises around 3am and took Mr Hassan away. She alleged that the intruders physically assaulted her, seized her husband's mobile phones, a laptop, and her own mobile device. A masked woman among the raiders was also seen wearing an NCCIA identification tag.

Mr Hassan, who had been vocal about opposing the government's policies on social media, had denied any accusations of anti-state remarks. His lawyer, Advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq, confirmed that the NCCIA had denied involvement in the arrest. Ashfaq emphasized that they would seek relief from the Lahore High Court to secure Mr Hassan's safe return. This report is based on information published in Dawn on October 13th, 2026.