IHC tells NCCIA to provide journalist Asad Toor with details of allegations against him

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to provide vlogger and journalist Asad Toor with details of the allegations against him in connection with a summons issued by the agency. The agency had issued a notice to Toor on Wednesday 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 challenged the summons in the IHC on Thursday, arguing that the NCCIA had failed to fulfil the legal requirements while issuing the notice and did not provide details of the allegations levelled against him. On Friday, Justice Mohammad Azam Khan took up Toor’s petition. Advocate Attaullah Kundi appeared before the court on behalf of the petitioner. During the hearing, the court asked the petitioner’s counsel, “Why don’t you appear before the NCCIA? Don’t you have a defence?” Kundi replied that they were unaware of the exact allegations against his client and, therefore, did not know what they were expected to respond to. The counsel submitted that all details and material relating to the allegations should be provided to the petitioner in advance. Justice Azam Khan observed that the petition would be disposed of with directions to the NCCIA to provide the petitioner with all relevant details concerning the allegations. Kundi said that providing such details was precisely what the petitioner had requested. The IHC subsequently disposed of the petition, directing the NCCIA to provide Toor with details of the allegations against him. On Wednesday, 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.” NPC urged institutions to play their respective roles in accordance with law, constitution and fundamental human rights. “Free, responsible and safe journalism is the foundation of a strong democratic system,” NPC said, demanding that notice be withdrawn and the “constitutional and legal rights” of journalists be respected. It warned against steps curtailing freedom of the press and fostering “insecurity among the journalist community”. 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.