Canadian PhD Student Detained in Pakistan Over Social Media Posts
A Canadian PhD student conducting research in Pakistan has been arrested by the country's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency over his social media activity. Hamza Ahmed Khan, a dual Canadian-Pakistani citizen and University of Toronto student, was taken into custody following what his attorney describes as an "abduction" rather than a proper legal arrest.
Disappearance and Detention
Ahmed Khan traveled to Pakistan in December to interview expatriates about promoting democracy in Muslim-majority cities, specifically Lahore and Islamabad. He was staying with a friend in Lahore when he went missing early Thursday morning while using the ride-hailing service Yango. The student had been expected to arrive in Karachi to spend Ramadan with his family.
When family members contacted the ride-sharing app, they were informed that Ahmed Khan's trip had been canceled halfway through. For several days, his whereabouts remained unknown until a Pakistani journalist revealed on Sunday that the student was in jail after being detained by the NCCIA.
Legal Concerns and Allegations
Attorney Asad Jamal, retained by Ahmed Khan's family, stated that his client was "abducted, not arrested" because the detention did not follow proper legal procedures. "He was not informed about the circumstances and the reasons for being taken into custody by whoever did that," Jamal explained. "We don't know who took him away. We suspect that intelligence agencies might have been involved."
The NCCIA's official report claims Ahmed Khan has been in custody since Saturday after the agency discovered during routine cyber patrols that his X and Instagram accounts were "disseminating misinformation and disinformation targeting state institutions." According to Dawn newspaper, the report described the posts as "inflammatory and appears designed to incite public unrest, spread animosity and undermine social order."
Content of Social Media Posts
The report further alleged that Ahmed Khan posted derogatory content to "defame and malign constitutional and political leadership of Pakistan, incite hatred and undermine the integrity of the state." It warned that "the propagation of such malicious content poses a significant risk, with the potential to cause severe reputational damage to the state of Pakistan both domestically and internationally."
A review of Ahmed Khan's X page shows he repeatedly expressed support for former Prime Minister Imran Khan's release from prison. On February 18, just one day before his disappearance, he shared an Al Jazeera English post claiming Pakistan's Punjab police killed 900 people in eight months. That same day, he reposted a comment stating "Imran Khan deserves his freedom. And Pakistan deserves better: Rule of law - not rule of the powers that be."
Family and Academic Response
Ahmed Khan's brother, Awes Ahmed Khan, has disputed the government's characterization of his sibling's social media activity. "He's a person who's very articulate. He talks with rhetoric," Awes told CBC. "He debates with people sometimes on critical issues and a lot of times, those issues are related to his background." He described his brother as "balanced" and using social media primarily for intellectual discussion.
University of Toronto officials have expressed concern about their student's well-being. Vice Provost Sandy Welsh stated: "Our priority is his safety and well-being and we are in contact with his family and Canadian officials to support his return to Canada." Global Affairs Canada confirmed awareness of the situation but cited privacy concerns for not providing further details.
Broader Context and Analysis
McMaster University professor Ahmed Shafiqul Huque provided context about Pakistan's political environment, noting the country has experienced "a cycle of military dictatorships and weak civilian governance for decades." He suggested that "anything that the rulers perceived to contribute to an outcome that will undermine their position will be pulled up as [a] crime and then they will be detained, like [Ahmed Khan]."
Professor Huque added that electronic crime prevention acts are commonly used by military dictatorships to suppress dissent. "They try to jump at every potential case where there might be people speaking out about what is going on in the system," he explained. "There is a gap between the rules and reality, and many people fall between those gaps."
Current Situation and Legal Proceedings
Ahmed Khan is currently being held in Lahore district jail under Pakistan's 2016 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. His brother described the conditions as "the worst that you can imagine" with "multiple people in a single cell" that is "not fit for a decent human person." The NCCIA report lists several alleged offenses including offenses against the dignity of a natural person, cyber stalking, and spoofing under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.
The student is scheduled to attend a bail hearing in Lahore on Wednesday at 11am local time. The Daily Mail has reached out to both the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and Yango for comment on the situation.
