A Lahore court has extended anchorperson Orya Maqbool Jan’s physical remand by four days, following a request from the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing to a judicial magistrate at the district court Lahore to continue their probe into his alleged involvement in cybercrime and hate speech on 26 August.

 The FIA’s extension request was based on evidence suggesting Jan’s inflammatory social media content targeted state institutions. The investigating officer highlighted that Jan was part of a WhatsApp group engaged in discussions that were critical of high-ranking officials and appeared to encourage actions against state entities.

The investigation has focused on Jan’s social media posts and communications, which the FIA argues form part of a broader campaign undermining state authority. Technical reports and analyses of Jan’s mobile devices and social media interactions were presented to the court to substantiate these claims. The FIA contends these activities are connected to a systematic effort to challenge judicial decisions and state institutions.

In contrast, Jan’s defense, led by Advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq, challenged the extension of his remand. Ashfaq asserted that the charges against Jan were without merit and that the evidence provided by the FIA was insufficient to support the allegations. He argued that Jan’s social media activity was intended as personal commentary and that his arrest resulted from his critical views on judicial matters rather than criminal behavior.

The court has instructed the FIA to address concerns about Jan’s detention conditions, and he is expected to return to court on August 30 for further proceedings.

Jan was arrested and remanded on August 22 after the FIA sought a 14-day custody period to recover evidence and complete the investigation. The magistrate granted a four-day remand, citing incriminating material that justified further investigation.