Key Takeaways
- Islamabad High Court (IHC) restrained National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) from harassing journalist Asad Toor.
- Toor challenged the summons in court, arguing that the NCCIA failed to provide specific details of allegations against him.
- The IHC directed that Toor should not be harassed during the inquiry and summoned the investigating officer.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a directive restraining the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) from harassing vlogger and journalist Asad Toor during an ongoing inquiry. The court’s decision comes after Toor challenged the summons in the IHC, arguing that the NCCIA had not fulfilled legal requirements.
Toor was initially directed to appear before the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre on July 31 for an inquiry into alleged dissemination of false information. His counsel, Advocate Attaullah Kundi, argued that without specific details of the accusations, it was impossible for Toor to respond adequately.
During the court proceedings, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro asked about the specific news report in question. Advocate Kundi stated that the allegations related to a news report concerning the medical condition of the PTI founder. The court then directed that Toor should not be harassed during the inquiry and summoned the investigating officer.
This development follows last month’s condemnation by the National Press Club (NPC), which expressed alarm at the state of press freedom in Pakistan, stating that subjecting journalists to legal pressure is not a good omen for any democratic society. The NPC leadership emphasized the constitutional right to freedom of expression.
Toor had previously faced criticism from the media fraternity when he was arrested in February 2024 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act for allegedly launching a malicious campaign against state institutions. He was later released in March, but this latest court order aims to protect him during the current inquiry process.
The IHC’s decision is seen as a significant step towards safeguarding press freedom and ensuring that journalists are not unduly harassed or intimidated while performing their professional duties.
