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

The Islamabad High Court has directed Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to furnish journalist and vlogger Asad Toor with the specific allegations against him. The directive came after Toor challenged a summons issued by the agency for an inquiry into the alleged dissemination of false information.

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Why don’t you appear before the NCCIA? Don’t you have a defence?

Toor, who was summoned to appear before the NCCIA on July 31, argued in his petition to the high court that the agency had not fulfilled legal requirements. He stated that the notice lacked crucial details about the allegations, preventing him from preparing a defense. His lawyer emphasized that providing these details in advance was essential.

The court, presided over by Justice Mohammad Azam Khan, acknowledged the petitioner's concern. The judge observed that the petition could be resolved by instructing the NCCIA to provide all relevant information. The court subsequently disposed of the petition with this directive.

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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.

Separately, the National Press Club (NPC) voiced strong condemnation of the NCCIA's notice to Toor. The NPC expressed alarm over the state of press freedom in the country. It asserted that freedom of expression is a constitutional right and warned that subjecting journalists to legal pressure for their professional duties or critical opinions is detrimental to a democratic society. The club urged institutions to act within legal and constitutional frameworks, emphasizing that free and responsible journalism is vital for a strong democracy. The NPC demanded the withdrawal of the notice and respect for journalists' rights, cautioning against actions that could stifle press freedom and create insecurity within the journalist community. This incident follows a previous arrest of Toor in February 2024 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, which also drew criticism from the media fraternity before his release in March.

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Free, responsible and safe journalism is the foundation of a strong democratic system.