KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Wednesday sent journalist Muhammad Aslam Shah to prison on judicial remand after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) failed to secure his physical custody in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2025.
Mr Shah was arrested by the NCCIA a day earlier in connection with a case lodged on December 29, 2025, on the complaint of Tabish Raza Husnain, who is stated to be an official of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC). The FIR was registered under Section 20 of Peca, which relates to offences against the dignity of a natural person, and Section 24, which deals with cyberstalking.
On Wednesday, the NCCIA produced the journalist before the judicial magistrate (South) and sought his physical remand for 14 days, arguing that custodial interrogation was required to probe the allegations and recover digital evidence. However, after hearing the investigating officer, the court observed that sufficient grounds for granting physical remand had not been made out.
Consequently, the magistrate declined the NCCIA’s request and sent the accused to prison on judicial remand, directing that he be produced again on the next date of hearing.
According to the FIR, the complainant alleged that Mr Shah had been running what he described as a “defamation propaganda” campaign against him and one of his seniors, identified as Colonel Anjum, through various social media groups. The complainant further claimed that the journalist used abusive and offensive language in online posts, which allegedly caused him mental distress and harmed his personal and professional reputation.
The NCCIA stated that screenshots of the allegedly objectionable content were submitted by the complainant and made part of the inquiry record. The agency maintained that the posts fell within the ambit of offences punishable under Peca.
In its version, the NCCIA claimed that during the preliminary inquiry, multiple notices were issued to Mr Shah, directing him to appear before the agency to record his statement and clarify his position regarding the allegations. However, the agency alleged that the journalist did not comply with the notices and deliberately avoided appearing before investigators.
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According to the NCCIA, Mr Shah’s alleged failure to participate in the inquiry proceedings reflected a “non-cooperative and evasive attitude,” which, it argued, necessitated his arrest and custodial interrogation.
The NCCIA said that the complainant had submitted screenshots of the alleged content.https://t.co/n80RvMYkwR
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) January 8, 2026
The arrest and subsequent remand proceedings have drawn attention in journalistic circles, where concerns are often raised regarding the application of cybercrime laws in cases involving members of the media. No formal response from Mr Shah or his legal counsel was available immediately after the court proceedings.
Further proceedings in the case are expected after the completion of the judicial remand period, as the investigation continues under the relevant provisions of Peca.
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