Counterterrorism officials in Pakistan have detained an investigative journalist and social media content creator in Lahore on suspicion of connections to the al-Qaida terrorist organization, according to security sources.
Muhammad Saad bin Riaz, a 31-year-old academic and researcher, was taken into custody during a coordinated intelligence operation based on what authorities described as verified intelligence information.
During the detention, security personnel reportedly discovered an al-Qaida membership card, photographs of Osama bin Laden, and related materials in a bag he was carrying, according to security sources. Riaz, who also goes by Muhammad Saad, holds an MPhil degree in political science from Government College University and has spent the last two years working as a researcher and content strategist for the EON YouTube channel.
A counterterrorism official speaking to The Media Line revealed that intelligence agencies had received reports about someone recruiting individuals for the prohibited al-Qaida organization and distributing banned materials. “Swift action was taken and a man, who identified himself as Muhammad Saad, was taken into custody,” the official stated.
The official further disclosed that investigators found five books about Osama bin Laden in his bag during the search, and “an al-Qaida membership card was also found in his possession.” Additionally, Muhammad Saad had reportedly posted an image featuring Osama bin Laden on his X social media account, @Hafizsaadriaz.
Formal charges have been filed against Muhammad Saad, and he has been transferred to a secure location for additional questioning. However, his spouse, Ayesha A. Qayyum, has strongly disputed the counterterrorism department’s accusations, calling them groundless. In a social media post, she described the case as “an illegal act, a blatant violation of the requirements of justice, and driven by mala fide intent.”
This development comes after reports surfaced in September 2024 suggesting that Hamza bin Laden, Osama bin Laden’s son, remains alive and is working to rebuild al-Qaida operations in Afghanistan, contrary to previous reports that he died in a 2019 CIA airstrike.
Intelligence sources believe that Hamza bin Laden and al-Qaida’s current operational leader, Saif al-Adel, are operating from secure locations across multiple Afghan provinces, including Kandahar, Ghazni, Laghman, Parwan, Herat, and Helmand. These locations allegedly serve as transit points for al-Qaida operatives traveling to and from Iran.
Osama bin Laden, who established al-Qaida and orchestrated the September 11 attacks, was eliminated on May 2, 2011, during a secret US military raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan. More than a decade after his death, the suspected al-Qaida connections of a young academic and social media personality arrested in Lahore represents what some analysts view as a concerning development.
This incident adds to growing concerns that al-Qaida may be quietly working to preserve or broaden its reach, with some experts suggesting the organization could be leveraging anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian rhetoric to advance its messaging.
