Lahore: Rehan Tariq appeared before a Lahore court on Tuesday after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) completed his six-day physical remand in a case involving blasphemy and cybercrime charges.

The NCCIA told Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo that investigators no longer required Tariq’s physical custody. The court then ordered a 14-day judicial remand.

During the hearing, Magistrate Wattoo remarked that people should not engage in religious discussions without adequate religious knowledge.

The NCCIA arrested Tariq at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport after he returned to Pakistan from abroad.

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Investigators registered a first information report (FIR) against Tariq under Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which covers hate speech. They also charged him under Sections 153-A, 295-A and 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to the FIR, which authorities registered on June 25, Tariq hosted a podcast with a religious scholar and discussed sensitive sectarian issues. Investigators allege that the discussion sparked controversy among followers of different sects.

The case remains under investigation.