Senate panel grills NCCIA over delay in cybercrime complaints

Pakistan's Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights has voiced significant concerns regarding the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency's (NCCIA) performance, citing delays in processing complaints and technical malfunctions with its online portal. The committee, chaired by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, reviewed the agency's effectiveness, particularly in addressing cybercrime complaints and handling blasphemy-related cases.

During the meeting, Senator Quratulain Marri reported a sustained online campaign against her and her family on social media, noting the lack of effective action despite a formal complaint filed through legal counsel. NCCIA officials attributed the issues with the online system to technical and operational constraints, while assuring that written complaints could still be submitted via legal representatives for prompt processing. They also stated that action to block objectionable online content is typically completed within 15 days.

Senator Zehri expressed dissatisfaction with the delays, questioning whether complainants should be left helpless due to technical excuses. Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan echoed these sentiments. In response to these concerns, the committee resolved to summon the NCCIA director general to a July 17 meeting. The briefing will cover the status of the online complaint portal, delays in complaint processing, enforcement timelines, response protocols, and strategies for improving the agency's performance.

The committee also received an update on blasphemy cases from the Punjab home secretary. A special committee has convened twice to examine such cases, and an inter-agency coordination mechanism has been established to enhance prosecution and streamline legal proceedings. The monitoring of online blasphemy-related content is conducted through a dedicated center, with actionable reports forwarded to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for necessary action. Senator Zehri specifically requested a detailed briefing on the revised mechanism for registering First Information Reports (FIRs) in blasphemy cases.

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whether complainant should be left helpless due to technical excuses.