IHC restrains NCCIA from harassing journalist Asad Toor during inquiry

The Islamabad High Court has intervened to protect journalist and vlogger Asad Toor, restraining the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) from harassing him during an ongoing inquiry. The NCCIA had issued a notice to Toor on July 29, summoning him to appear for an investigation into allegations of disseminating false information. Toor subsequently challenged this summons in the high court the next day. His legal challenge argued that the NCCIA had not followed proper legal procedures in issuing the notice and crucially, had failed to provide him with the specific details of the accusations against him. This lack of clarity, Toor's counsel contended, made it impossible for him to adequately respond to the inquiry. The court acknowledged these concerns, directing the agency to furnish Toor with the specifics of the allegations. On Thursday, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro presided over the hearing, ultimately granting the restraint against the NCCIA's actions.