Pakistan cybercrime agency summons journalist over 'false information'

Journalist Asad Ali Toor has been summoned by Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) over allegations of spreading false information. The agency issued a notice on Wednesday, citing a complaint filed under Section 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, which pertains to the punishment for disseminating false or fake information.

The notice, obtained by Dawn, states that the state is the complainant against Toor. He is directed to appear before the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Islamabad at 11 a.m. on July 31 for an inquiry into the alleged dissemination, transmission, and/or public exhibition of false or fake information.

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alleged dissemination, transmission and/or public exhibition of false/fake information

The NCCIA warned that failure to appear without a lawful excuse would be considered an unwillingness to offer a defense, and the inquiry would proceed in his absence. Furthermore, non-compliance with the notice could lead to penalties under Section 174 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which addresses non-attendance in obedience to an order from a public servant.

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failure to appear without lawful excuse shall be deemed as your unwillingness to offer any defence, and the inquiry will proceed