Pakistani authorities have arrested journalist Waheed Murad under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), alleging that his social media posts contained misleading information inciting hatred against government officials. Murad, associated with Urdu News, was taken from his Islamabad residence by masked individuals early Wednesday morning, according to his family. He was presented before Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah, who approved a two-day physical remand.
The formal complaint accuses Murad of sharing “highly intimidating” content on Facebook and X Corp. on March 12, 2025, which purportedly disseminated false information leading to public unrest. The case has been registered under various sections of PECA, including sections 9, 10, 20, and 26-A.
Murad’s wife, journalist Shinza Nawaz, reported on social media platform X that masked men forcibly entered their home, mistreated her mother—a heart patient—and seized mobile phones and documents. This incident has sparked concerns among media professionals and international rights organizations about the state of press freedom in Pakistan.
