LAHORE: Pakistani podcaster and YouTuber Rehan Tariq, who was reportedly taken into custody after arriving at Lahore Airport from London, has been remanded into physical custody for six days by a court in connection with a blasphemy case.
According to reports circulating on social media and media outlets, Rehan Tariq arrived in Lahore shortly after 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday-Thursday night on a flight from London. He was initially stopped by officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at the airport. Later, officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) reportedly took him into their custody.
Earlier reports had claimed that Rehan Tariq was shifted from the airport to an undisclosed location. At the time, no official details had been released regarding the reasons for his detention, while the NCCIA and Rehan Tariq’s family or close associates had not issued any official statement, leaving the situation unclear.
The case has now moved forward, with a court approving a six-day physical remand of Rehan Tariq.
According to the case details, an FIR was registered against Rehan Tariq under blasphemy charges as well as other provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The case was registered on the complaint of Deputy Director Rizwan Sabir.
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According to the FIR, Rehan Tariq uploaded an interview on his official page in which highly sensitive and controversial questions were allegedly raised.
The investigating authorities told the court that they require Rehan Tariq’s physical remand to conduct forensic examinations of his electronic devices and mobile phone as part of the investigation.
Following the hearing, the court granted a six-day physical remand of Rehan Tariq and directed the NCCIA to submit an investigation report at the next hearing.
Legal experts have stated that the investigation is ongoing and that any final conclusions regarding the allegations should await the completion of the legal process and the findings presented before the court.
