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IHC restrains NCCIA from harassing journalist Asad Toor during inquiry

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday restrained the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) from harassing vlogger and journalist Asad Toor during the course of its inquiry.

The agency had issued a notice to Toor on July 29 for an inquiry into “alleged dissemination, transmission and/or public exhibition of false/fake information” by him. He was directed to appear before the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Islamabad at 11am on July 31.

Toor had challenged the summons in the IHC the following day, arguing that the NCCIA had failed to fulfil the legal requirements while issuing the notice and had not provided details of the allegations against him.

The court had subsequently directed the agency to provide Toor with details of the allegations against him; his counsel argued that the agency had not specified the accusations, making it impossible for him to respond to the inquiry.

On Thursday, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro heard the petition. During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Attaullah Kundi, said that Toor was willing to join the inquiry but feared being arrested.

“We want to appear in the inquiry, but we do not want to be arrested,” the counsel told the court, adding that allegations of disseminating fake and false information had been levelled against the journalist.

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro asked the petitioner’s counsel which particular news report had been described as fake. In response, Advocate Kundi stated that the allegation related to a news report concerning the medical condition of the PTI founder.

After hearing the arguments, the court directed that Toor should not be harassed during the inquiry. It also summoned the investigating officer in his personal capacity and adjourned further proceedings in the case.

Last month, the National Press Club (NPC) had condemned the NCCIA notice to Toor, expressing alarm at the state of press freedom.

Asserting that the right to freedom of expression was a constitutional right, NPC leadership said, “Subjecting journalists to legal pressure and retaliation for performing their professional duties or expressing critical opinions is not a good omen for any democratic society.”

Toor was also arrested in February 2024 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act for allegedly launching a malicious campaign against state institutions, a move that drew criticism from the media fraternity. He was later released in March.



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