Pakistan Awam Raj Tehreek chief Iqrar ul Hassan was allegedly picked up from his residence late at night, with his family stating his whereabouts remain unknown as authorities deny having him in custody. According to his family, a group of people broke into the residence and took Iqrar away, while also confiscating mobile phones, a laptop, a DVR, and CCTV footage.
His wife, Farah Iqrar, said she was asleep when the doorbell rang loudly; she woke up to find a large number of people already inside the premises. "I asked, 'Who are you people?'" she said, alleging that she was pushed and suffered an injury to her hand.
Farah noted that two women were accompanying the group, while two men grabbed Iqrar after he exited his room. "They took Iqrar's phones, his laptop, the entire DVR, and dismantled and took away the CCTV footage," she alleged.
She further claimed that her two mobile phones were snatched when she attempted to contact family members. "I saw 'NCCIA' written on the arms of the women.
Other than that, I know nothing," Farah said. Iqrar's lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, stated that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) denied having him in its custody when the matter was raised before a judicial magistrate.
"The court clearly and explicitly asked them about the custody and production of Iqrar ul Hassan Syed," Ashfaq said, adding that the NCCIA completely denied holding him. Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari stated that the Punjab Police had not arrested Iqrar.
"The Punjab Police has not arrested Iqrar ul Hassan. The matter is being investigated, and as soon as any verified information is received, his family will be informed," she said.
Iqrar's other wife, Quratulain, also appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the administration to take action. "I request Maryam Nawaz Sahiba to take specific action and alert the administration to recover Iqrar ul Hassan as soon as possible, because we have no idea where he is, what evidence is being fabricated against him, or under what circumstances he has been picked up," she added.