KARACHI: A judicial magistrate sent journalist Muhammad Aslam Shah to prison on judicial remand a day after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) arrested him in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2025.

The case was registered on Dec 29, 2025 on the complaint of Tabish Raza Husnain, said to be an official of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), under Sections 20 (offences against the dignity of a natural person) and Section 24 (cyberstalking) of Peca.

On Wednesday, the NCCIA brought the journalist before the judicial magistrate (South) and sought his custody for interrogation for 14 days.

However, the investigating officer failed to satisfy the court and as a result, the magistrate sent Mr Shah to prison on judicial remand.

In the FIR, the complainant alleged that Mr Shah was doing “defamation propaganda” against him and his senior, Colonel Anjum, in social media groups.

He also alleged that he allegedly used abusive language, which caused him significant distress and damage to his reputation.

The NCCIA said that the complainant had submitted screenshots of the alleged content.

It claimed that during the inquiry, the agency issued multiple notices to the accused, “directing him to appear before it to record his statement and clarify his position”.

However, the agency claimed that Mr Shah did not appear before the NCCIA and “wilfully avoided participation in the enquiry proceedings, demonstrating a non-cooperative and evasive attitude”.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2026