Toor’s lawyer says the law requires authorities to provide the details of the allegations in advance
Journalist Asad Ali Toor. Photo: X/ File
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to provide renowned journalist Asad Toor with the details of the allegations against him in connection with a summons issued by the agency over allegedly spreading “fake information”.
The NCCIA on Wednesday issued a notice to Toor, directing him to appear before the agency in connection with an inquiry into the alleged dissemination of “false information”. According to a notice issued by the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre, and also shared by the journalist on his X account, Toor was summoned under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in connection with the inquiry.
The directions came during the hearing of Toor’s petition challenging the NCCIA notice. Advocate Ataullah Kundi, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, argued that his client could not respond to the allegations because they had not been informed of their nature.
“We do not even know what the allegations are. How can we respond?” Kundi told the court, adding that the law required authorities to provide the details of the allegations in advance.
Justice Azam Khan replied, asking, “Why are you not appearing? Do you not have a defence?”
The judge later observed that the court would dispose of the petition after directing the NCCIA to provide the petitioner with the details of the allegations. Kundi responded that this was the relief sought by the petitioner.
The court subsequently disposed of the petition after issuing the directions.
NCCIA opens Peca inquiry
The inquiry by the NCCIA pertains to the alleged dissemination of false or fake information under Section 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016. The notice stated that the NCCIA was conducting an inquiry into the matter and identified the complainant as “Through State”, which was registered on Tuesday.
Read: NCCIA summons journalist Asad Toor under Peca for alleged dissemination of ‘fake info’
According to the notice, the allegations relate to the “alleged dissemination, transmission and/or public exhibition of false/fake information”.
The agency directed the journalist to appear in person at the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre on Saturday to record his version in the inquiry, while warning that failure to appear without lawful excuse would be deemed an unwillingness to offer a defence and the inquiry would proceed ex parte.
It further warned that non-compliance with the notice was punishable under Section 174 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), 1860.
The National Press Club (NPC) strongly condemned the notice, describing it as “a disturbing example of an attempt to pressure the fundamental rights of press freedom and freedom of expression”.
In a statement, the NPC said that the Constitution guaranteed every citizen, particularly journalists, the right to freedom of expression and to perform their professional duties. “Subjecting journalists to legal pressure and retaliatory action for carrying out their professional responsibilities or expressing critical opinions is not a positive sign for any democratic society,” it added.
