CTD arrest of YouTuber sparks dispute over terror charges

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 2 May 2026 |  JP Staff Report

Punjab CTD arrested YouTuber Muhammad Saad bin Riaz on April 27, alleging he recruited for the banned al-Qaeda and seized books and an alleged membership card, filing an FIR under the Anti-Terrorism Act. His family denies the claims and questions the arrest.

Summary

LAHORE—Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has arrested a YouTuber on allegations of recruiting individuals for al-Qaeda, but the case has quickly become contested, with the suspect’s family and associates rejecting the official account and questioning the circumstances of the arrest.

The arrested individual, identified as Muhammad Saad bin Riaz, is associated with the YouTube channel Eon News. CTD registered a First Information Report (FIR) against him on the complaint of one of its officials, invoking provisions of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act.

Questions raised over arrest circumstances

According to the FIR filed by CTD official Taqeer Aslam, the arrest took place on April 27 during a search operation for wanted suspects near GPO Chowk on Lahore’s Mall Road. The report states that an informant alerted authorities about a suspected member of the banned al-Qaeda network present at a mosque on Mazang Road, allegedly recruiting individuals and distributing prohibited material.

The FIR further claims that during the raid, authorities recovered five copies of a book about Osama bin Laden from Saad’s possession, along with what was described as an al-Qaeda membership card. The case includes charges under Section 11F(2), relating to membership of a banned organization, and Section 11W, concerning the dissemination of material linked to proscribed groups.

Family disputes official narrative

However, Saad’s family has strongly challenged the CTD’s version of events. His wife, Ayesha Qayyum, stated in a post on X that a group of 12 to 13 masked men entered their home around 3:30 a.m. and forcibly took him away, contradicting the claim that he was arrested at a mosque.

She further alleged that the FIR was registered only after legal pressure was applied, describing the charges as baseless. Separately, Eon News released a video indicating that legal action would be pursued in response to the arrest.

A friend of Saad, Ibrahim Jafri, also claimed on X that camera footage exists showing the YouTuber being taken from his residence rather than a public location. As of now, no such footage has been publicly released, and authorities have not responded to these claims.

To civil society, journalists, and state officials:

I am writing as a grieving wife, seeking the immediate and lawful release of my husband, Muhammad Saad.

At approximately 3:30 AM this Monday, 12–13 masked men with guns forcibly entered our home and took him away without… pic.twitter.com/ewyvkWyDBV

— Ayesha A.Qayyum 🇵🇰🇵🇸🍁 (@AyeshaA_Q) May 1, 2026

Legal and media implications

The case highlights tensions around counterterrorism enforcement and due process, particularly when it involves individuals linked to digital media platforms. While CTD maintains that the arrest is based on intelligence and material evidence, the conflicting accounts have raised questions about transparency and procedural safeguards.

No independent verification of the competing claims has been made public so far, and the matter is likely to proceed through the courts, where evidence and arrest procedures will be scrutinized.

WHY THIS MATTERS: Cases involving journalists or digital content creators under anti-terror laws can have significant implications for media freedom and due process in Pakistan. For newsrooms and independent creators, this underscores the importance of legal awareness, documentation, and transparency in reporting activities. It also highlights the risks associated with unclear enforcement narratives and the need for verifiable evidence in high-stakes allegations.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan, based on a BBC Urdu report (May 2026) and publicly available statements from involved parties on X (April–May 2026).

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.