Journalist Hammad Hassan says NCCIA detained him over tweet

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 14 May 2026 |  JP Staff Report

Journalist Hammad Hassan said he was briefly detained by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency after a May 4 tweet alleging that apartments in Islamabad Twin Towers were being used to monitor the Red Zone and Serena Hotel. NCCIA seized his phone.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Journalist Hammad Hassan has said he was briefly detained by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) over a social media post that alleged suspected surveillance activity near Islamabad’s Red Zone and Serena Hotel, raising fresh concerns among journalists about the handling of media-related investigations in Pakistan.

In a video statement circulating online, Hassan said he had posted a tweet on May 4 claiming that some apartments in Islamabad Twin Towers were allegedly being used to monitor sensitive locations in the capital through surveillance equipment. He said the information had been confirmed through multiple sources before publication.

Detention over a social media post

According to Hassan, NCCIA officials approached him on May 7 while he was attending a family dinner and participating remotely in a television program through Zoom. He said several officials arrived at the residence after his appearance ended and informed him they wanted to question him regarding the tweet.

Hassan said he voluntarily accompanied the officials to the NCCIA office while his son and another relative followed in a separate vehicle. Upon arrival, he said officers took possession of his mobile phone and informed him that an FIR had been registered against him and that he would be presented before a court the following day.

The journalist said he requested access to legal counsel and instructed his son to contact his lawyer. He added that fellow journalists Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui and Sanaullah Khan became concerned after being unable to reach him because his phone had been switched off.

Political intervention and release

Hasaan stated that after midnight, Siddiqui contacted Federal Information Minister Ataullah Tarar and informed him about the detention. According to Hassan, the minister then contacted senior officials, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

He said an NCCIA officer later informed him that there had been a “misunderstanding” and that he was free to return home. Hassan questioned why authorities had initiated detention proceedings instead of summoning him through formal legal channels.

In the same video statement, Hassan said he had noticed unusual activity around his residence before the incident, including unidentified individuals on motorcycles and in a vehicle near his home. He said he chose not to publicly mention those observations at the time because he could not independently verify their significance.

The journalist also reflected on broader tensions between state institutions and the media, saying journalists can make mistakes but should not be treated as security threats for reporting. He maintained that he supports state institutions while defending editorial independence and rejecting what he described as attempts to influence journalistic work through intimidation.

The NCCIA has not publicly released details of the alleged FIR or the legal basis of the inquiry at the time of publication. No formal statement from the agency regarding the incident was immediately available.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The incident highlights continuing concerns within Pakistan’s media community about the use of cybercrime laws and legal mechanisms in matters involving journalism and public-interest reporting. It is likely to renew discussion about how authorities handle investigations involving journalists and social media activity. The episode also reflects growing tensions around digital journalism, where tweets and online reporting can quickly become the subject of official scrutiny. Media professionals may view the development as part of a broader conversation about due process, reporter protections, and the relationship between state institutions and independent journalism in Pakistan.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan, based on publicly available video statement by Hammad Hassan and public remarks referenced in media discussions on May 13, 2026.

PHOTO: Screenshot from journalist Hammad Hassan’s video statement circulated on social media, May 13, 2026.