Canadian doctoral researcher produced in court after being found in NCCIA custody

LAHORE: A Canadian national pursuing doctoral research, who was reported missing last week, has been found in the custody of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

The agency on Monday produced Hamza Ahmad Khan before a magistrate, who remanded him to jail for 14 days on judicial remand.

A day earlier, police had registered a kidnapping case on the complaint of his friend. According to the first information report (FIR) lodged at Defence-A police station, Hamza went missing in the early hours of February 19 after leaving his residence in DHA Phase 10.

On Monday, it emerged that Hamza had been taken into custody by the NCCIA over alleged anti-state posts on social media platforms X and Instagram.

In the FIR registered by the cybercrime agency, officials stated that during routine cyber patrols, accounts linked to Hamza were found to be actively “disseminating misinformation and disinformation targeting state institutions."

The case was registered under sections 20 (offences against the dignity of a natural person), 24 (cyber stalking) and 26A (spoofing) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.

“An initial analysis indicates that the content in question is being published intentionally and is publicly accessible. The nature of these posts is inflammatory and appears designed to incite public unrest, spread animosity, and undermine social order,” the FIR stated.

The agency further claimed that the alleged content posed a “significant risk” and had the potential to cause reputational damage to the state of Pakistan domestically and internationally.

According to the FIR, investigators verified during the inquiry that Hamza was uploading “derogatory posts against state functionaries and state institutions with the intention to harm their reputation."

It added that the suspect allegedly posted content aimed at “defaming constitutional and political leadership of Pakistan, inciting hatred and undermining the integrity of the state”.

“Such mischievous statements/posts render dire consequences nationally and internationally for the state of Pakistan,” the NCCIA said in the FIR.