Lahore Court Addresses Hamza Khan'S Cybercrime Bail Petition

On February 25, 2026, a Lahore court issued a notice to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) regarding the bail petition of Hamza Ahmed Khan, a Canadian PhD student who was arrested under Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Khan, who had been missing since February 19, was found in NCCIA custody and subsequently jailed for 14 days on judicial remand. His arrest stemmed from allegations that he posted derogatory content online aimed at state institutions, which the NCCIA claimed posed a 'significant risk' to Pakistan's reputation. Khan's lawyer, Asad Jamal, argued that the FIR against him was filed with 'malafide intentions' to obscure his alleged abduction, emphasizing that there was no direct evidence linking him to any crime. The magistrate has ordered the NCCIA to present the case records by February 26, 2026 (Dawn, 2026; Tribune Latest, 2026).