TV anchor Iqrarul Hassan sent to Karachi prison on judicial remand in Peca case

Karachi: A judge has ordered TV anchor Iqrarul Hassan to spend eight days in prison on judicial remand until October 26 in a cybercrime case. The anchor, who was arrested last week, allegedly disseminated anti-state content on his official social media accounts. He was booked under various sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).

On Monday, Hassan appeared before Karachi (East) Judicial Magistrate-I Judge Gulraiz Memon after completing six days of physical remand. His legal representative, Barrister Mian Ali Ashfaq, argued for an extension of his physical custody. However, Judge Memon ruled that sufficient time had been given for the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to continue with its investigations.

The NCCIA had sought an additional eight days. Judge Memon noted that there was no proof of any mistreatment by the police. The agency presented a remand report under Section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), stating that while the investigation had progressed, several crucial aspects needed to be further examined, including forensic analysis of Hassan's seized digital devices and records from other departments like Nadra.

A video shared by Hassan on his social media accounts on October 10 was cited, which the NCCIA deemed as the anchor spreading false, fabricated, anti-state, and defamatory content to incite public dissent against the state. The agency alleged that Hassan's posts glorified unlawful actions and wrongly portrayed convicted individuals, aiming to undermine the integrity, unity, and public order of Pakistan.

Hassan was charged under sections 9 (glorification of an offense), 10 (cyberterrorism), 24 (cyberstalking), and 26A (false and fake information) of Peca.