Rehan Tariq sent to NCCIA on six-day remand

LAHORE: A judicial magistrate on Wednesday handed podcast host and YouTuber Rehan Tariq to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on a six-day physical remand in a case filed under blasphemy and electronic crime laws.

According to the case record cited in court, the NCCIA registered an FIR against Tariq on June 25 after he hosted a podcast featuring a religious scholar in which highly sensitive and controversial sectarian matters were discussed, triggering controversy among followers of different sects.

The FIR includes Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, relating to hate speech, along with Sections 153-A, 295-A and 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code. These provisions concern promoting enmity between groups, outraging religious feelings, and uttering words or making gestures with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings.

During the hearing, NCCIA officials produced Tariq before Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo at the district courts. The investigating officer told the court that the suspect had been arrested at Lahore Airport after arriving from abroad and sought his custody for further investigation. The magistrate approved the request and directed the agency to present Tariq again after the remand period ends.