NCCIA arrests PTI activist Falak Javaid, confirms lawyer

ISLAMABAD: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s social media activist Falak Javaid Khan in a case pertaining to the uploading of ‘fake videos’ of Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari on social media, her lawyer confirmed on Wednesday.

The PTI also said that the social media activist was picked from a flat in Islamabad last night.

Advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq confirmed to Dawn.com that Falak Javaid was arrested in the ‘fake videos’ case. Falak Javaid is the sister of PTI activist Sanam Javaid Khan.

“My team and I will appear in the Lahore District Court tomorrow in Falak Javaid’s case. We will provide full legal assistance to her. If NCCIA applies for Falak Javaid’s physical remand, we will oppose it. The case is being reviewed from all angles,” he said.

In August 2024, the FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing had registered a case against six suspects, including Falak Javaid, over the fake video case.

After FIA’s inaction, Azma Bukhari approached the Lahore High Court seeking action against those involved in sharing fake pictures and videos of her on social media.

Azma Bukhari had criticised the FIA Cyber Wing for their inaction, accusing them of only collecting salaries without taking any steps against the social media accounts involved.

The minister said a request was made to the FIA under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act to take action against Falak and Hasan Toor, Shahabuddin, and Asma Tabassum, but the agency did not take any action.

The minister had said that she was defamed on social media and that her constitutional rights were violated.