LAHORE (MNN); A Canadian national pursuing doctoral research who was reported missing last week has surfaced in the custody of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency.
On Monday, the agency presented Hamza Ahmad Khan before a magistrate, who remanded him to jail for 14 days on judicial custody.
A day earlier, police had registered a kidnapping case on the complaint of his friend. According to the first information report lodged at the Defence-A police station, Hamza went missing in the early hours of February 19 after leaving his residence in DHA Phase 10.
Subsequently, it was revealed that he had been taken into custody by the cybercrime agency for allegedly sharing anti-state content on social media platforms X and Instagram.
In the FIR filed by the NCCIA, the agency stated that routine cyber patrols had detected accounts linked to Hamza that were allegedly disseminating misinformation and disinformation aimed at state institutions.
The case was registered under Sections 20, 24 and 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, relating to offences against the dignity of a natural person, cyberstalking and spoofing.
According to the FIR, preliminary analysis suggested that the content was intentionally published and publicly accessible. The posts were described as inflammatory in nature and allegedly intended to provoke public unrest, foster hostility and disrupt social order.
The agency further claimed that the circulation of such content posed a serious risk and could potentially damage Pakistan’s reputation at both national and international levels.
During the inquiry, investigators concluded that Hamza had uploaded derogatory material targeting state officials and institutions with the intent to harm their reputation.
The FIR also alleged that the suspect shared content aimed at defaming the constitutional and political leadership of Pakistan, inciting hatred and undermining the integrity of the state. The NCCIA maintained that such posts could have serious consequences for the country domestically and abroad.
