Cybercrime agency arrests journalist Khalid Jamil

Sources say a case had been registered against the journalist earlier this year

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad-based journalist Khalid Jamil was arrested by the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) from his home in Islamabad’s Media Town, the agency confirmed on Friday.

In a statement, NCCIA said the arrest was made following “completion of official procedures” and that more details would be shared later. Sources said a case had been registered against the journalist earlier this year, without providing any further details.

🚨🚨#BREAKING: In raid at his home, @FIA_Agency/ NCCI arrests journalist @khalidjamilkj from media town #Islamabad.#JournalismIsNotACrime pic.twitter.com/r3rlHaxO87

— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) August 22, 2025

Reports of his arrest began circulating on social media late Friday evening. Journalist Asad Ali Toor posted on X, claiming that Jamil had been picked up by FIA and NCCIA officials.

Adding to the reports, Khalid Yousuf Chaudry, a lawyer representing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, shared a video showing NCCIA officials taking the journalist away in a white car.

اینکر خالد جمیل کو ان کے گھر سے بغیر کسی وارنٹ شام 06:36 بجے اُٹھا کہ لے گئے ہیں اور اس وقت تک کوئی بھی ایف آئی آر تک درج نہیں ہوئی اور نہ وارنٹ دکھایا گیا ہے۔
پاکستان لاقانونیت کے بد ترین دور سے گزر رہا ہے جہاں منہ میں زبان ، ذہن میں سوچ رکھنا جرم بنا دیا گیا ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/o3e6mly1uO

— Khalid Yousaf Chaudry (@KhalidYChaudry) August 22, 2025

“Anchor Khalid Jamil was picked up from his residence at 6:36 pm without any warrant. As of now, no FIR has been registered, nor was any warrant presented at the time of his arrest,” Chaudry said.

This is not Jamil’s first run-in with authorities. He was previously arrested in September 2023 by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) over allegations of spreading anti-state narratives through social media.

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At the time, an FIR registered against him cited Section 505 of the Pakistan Penal Code, accusing him of sharing “highly intimidating” posts on X. He was remanded into custody by a district and sessions court and released on bail a week later.

Jamil, a prominent media figure, is currently unaffiliated with any news organisation. He runs a YouTube channel and frequently appears on television as a political analyst, often speaking out on human rights violations and political repression.