Key Takeaways
- Senators grilled the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency over delays in processing online complaints.
- Technical issues with the agency's complaint portal were cited as a reason for the delays.
- The committee will summon the NCCIA director general on July 17th to discuss improvements.
Senators from Pakistan’s Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights have expressed concern over delays in processing cybercrime complaints by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). During a meeting chaired by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, the committee reviewed the agency's performance and raised questions about the technical issues affecting its online complaint portal.
Senator Quratulain Marri highlighted that she had faced sustained online attacks against her and her family on social media platforms. Despite filing a formal complaint through legal counsel, no effective action was taken by the NCCIA. The senator expressed dissatisfaction over the agency's handling of such complaints, stating, 'Complainants should not be left helpless due to technical excuses.'
NCCIA officials acknowledged that technical and operational constraints had affected the online complaint system but assured that written complaints could still be submitted through legal representatives for immediate processing while remedial work on the portal was ongoing. They also stated that action regarding blocking or restricting objectionable content was generally completed within 15 days.
Senator Zehri, in her remarks, emphasized the need for a detailed briefing on the revised mechanism for registering FIRs (First Information Reports) in blasphemy cases. The Punjab home secretary provided an update on the special committee constituted to examine such cases and the establishment of an inter-agency coordination mechanism to strengthen prosecution.
The meeting also discussed the monitoring of online blasphemy-related content through a dedicated centre, with actionable reports being forwarded to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for action. However, Senator Zehri sought more detailed information on this process during her questioning.
In response to these concerns, the committee decided to summon the NCCIA director general in its next meeting scheduled for July 17th. The purpose of this briefing is to discuss the status of the online complaint portal, delays in complaint processing, enforcement timelines, and measures being taken to improve the agency's performance.
The committee’s decision reflects a growing awareness among lawmakers about the need for effective mechanisms to address cybercrime complaints promptly. Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan echoed similar sentiments, expressing dissatisfaction over the current state of affairs and calling for immediate action.
'Complainants should not be left helpless due to technical excuses.'
Senator Quratulain Marri, Member, Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights
