Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): The family of Hamza Ahmed Khan, a University of Toronto PhD student and dual Canadian-Pakistani citizen, has raised urgent concerns following his arrest by Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). Ahmed Khan, who was in Pakistan to conduct research for his dissertation on the politics of democracy promotion, went missing on Thursday, February 19, 2026, while traveling via a ride-hailing service in Lahore. His family only discovered his whereabouts on Sunday after being informed by a local journalist that he was being held in a Lahore district jail.
According to the NCCIA, Ahmed Khan was taken into custody after a “routine cyber patrol” allegedly found that his social media accounts were spreading “misinformation and disinformation targeting state institutions”. The agency’s official report described his posts as “inflammatory” and designed to “incite public unrest” and undermine social order. He is currently being held under Pakistan’s 2016 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), a law that critics and academics argue is frequently used by the state to silence dissent and intellectual criticism.
The family and their legal team have challenged the official narrative and the legality of the detention:
- Disputed Timeline: While the NCCIA claims he was arrested on Saturday, February 21, his family asserts he was “abducted” on Thursday morning after his Yango ride was abruptly canceled halfway through the trip.
- Nature of the Posts: Ahmed Khan’s brother, Awes Ahmed Khan, disputes the state’s characterization, describing his brother as an articulate academic who used social media for intellectual debate related to his research and background.
- Prison Conditions: The family has described the jail conditions as “the worst you can imagine,” citing overcrowded cells that are unfit for human habitation.
The University of Toronto and Global Affairs Canada have both expressed concern over the situation. U of T vice-provost Sandy Welsh stated that the university is in contact with the family and Canadian officials to support Ahmed Khan’s safe return. Meanwhile, McMaster University professor Ahmed Shafiqul Huque noted that under Pakistan’s current political climate, any research or discourse perceived as a threat to the ruling establishment is often treated as a criminal offense. A bail hearing for Ahmed Khan is scheduled to take place in Lahore on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
