Journalist Khurram Iqbal released after NCCIA detention sparks outcry

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 13 February 2026 |  JP Staff Report

Hum News producer Khurram Iqbal was picked up by plainclothes men in Lahore and detained for several hours before being released late Friday. His disappearance provoked widespread demands that authorities explain the actions.

Summary

LAHORE — A producer with Hum News was released late Friday after being detained for several hours by officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), following widespread concern among journalists and media bodies over his whereabouts.

Khurram Iqbal was reportedly picked up around 1 pm from his sister’s residence in Lahore by men in plainclothes, according to his family and statements issued by journalist associations. His detention triggered an immediate outcry on social media, with colleagues and press groups demanding clarity and his safe return.

Detention prompts media backlash

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists called on federal and provincial authorities, including the interior and information ministries, to intervene and ensure Iqbal’s immediate release. The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors also condemned what it described as an abduction and urged authorities to clarify the situation.

In its statement, the editors’ body cited Iqbal’s family as saying that armed men had taken him away without prior notice. The association expressed concern over what it termed a growing pattern of pressure and harassment faced by media professionals.

Officials initially deny action

When contacted earlier in the day, Federal Investigation Agency Director General Usman Anwar and Lahore Operations Deputy Inspector General Faisal Kamran denied any action against the journalist. Provincial government officials also did not issue a public statement during the initial hours following his reported detention.

Later in the evening, it emerged that Iqbal was in the custody of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, which released him around 9 pm. A senior official of the agency, speaking to Dawn on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Iqbal had been questioned but did not disclose the nature of the inquiry or any specific allegations.

No formal charges were publicly announced at the time of his release, and there was no immediate statement from the NCCIA detailing the grounds for his detention.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The incident highlights ongoing concerns within Pakistan’s media community about transparency in detentions involving journalists, particularly in cases linked to cybercrime or digital regulation. For newsrooms, it underscores the need for clear legal protocols, rapid response mechanisms, and coordinated advocacy when staff members are taken in for questioning by state agencies.

ATTRIBUTION: Information based on reporting by Dawn, statements issued by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors, and comments from a senior National Cyber Crime Agency official, as published in Dawn.

PHOTO: Courtesy Hum News