The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to provide vlogger and journalist Asad Toor with details of the allegations against him in connection with a summons issued by the agency.
The NCCIA had issued a notice to Toor on Wednesday as part of an inquiry into the alleged dissemination, transmission and/or public exhibition of false or fake information. The notice directed him to appear before the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Islamabad at 11am on July 31.
Toor challenged the summons in the Islamabad High Court on Thursday, arguing that the NCCIA had failed to fulfil the legal requirements while issuing the notice and had not provided details of the allegations against him.
The petition came up for hearing before Justice Mohammad Azam Khan on Friday. Advocate Attaullah Kundi appeared on behalf of the petitioner.
During the hearing, the court asked the petitioner’s counsel why his client did not appear before the NCCIA and whether he had a defence.
In response, Advocate Kundi told the court that the petitioner was unaware of the exact allegations against him and, therefore, did not know what he was expected to answer.
The counsel submitted that all details and material relating to the allegations should be provided to the petitioner in advance.
Justice Mohammad Azam Khan observed that the petition would be disposed of with directions to the NCCIA to provide the petitioner with all relevant details concerning the allegations.
Advocate Kundi said that providing such details was precisely what the petitioner had requested.
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The Islamabad High Court subsequently disposed of the petition, directing the NCCIA to furnish Asad Toor with details of the allegations against him.
Meanwhile, the National Press Club (NPC) on Wednesday condemned the NCCIA notice issued to Toor and expressed concern over the state of press freedom.
Describing freedom of expression as a constitutional right, the NPC leadership said that subjecting journalists to legal pressure and retaliation for performing their professional duties or expressing critical opinions was not a good sign for any democratic society.
The NPC urged institutions to perform their respective roles in accordance with the law, the Constitution and fundamental human rights.
It stated that free, responsible and safe journalism is the foundation of a strong democratic system and demanded that the notice against Toor be withdrawn and the constitutional and legal rights of journalists be respected.
The NPC also warned against measures that curtail press freedom and create insecurity among the journalist community.
