Arrest Made for Anti-State Social Media Posts in Pakistan

• •Azhar Ali was arrested for posting anti-state content on social media.
• •The arrest was made under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016.
• •Five suspects were detained for illegal currency exchange, recovering over Rs11.2 million.

On May 1, 2026, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) arrested Azhar Ali in Multan for allegedly posting anti-army and anti-state content on social media. The arrest was made under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, and relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. Authorities stated that the suspect was disseminating content targeting state institutions. In a separate operation, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) detained five individuals in Lahore for involvement in illegal currency exchange, recovering over Rs11.2 million. The FIA's arrests were part of a crackdown on hawala/hundi operations. Both incidents reflect ongoing enforcement actions against cybercrime and financial misconduct in Pakistan. Legal proceedings have begun against Azhar Ali following his arrest. The NCCIA emphasized its commitment to addressing the misuse of social media. No further details about the content shared by Ali were disclosed.