ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday restrained the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) from harassing vlogger and journalist Asad Toor during the course of its inquiry.
The NCCIA had issued a notice to Toor on July 29 for 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 11:00am on July 31.
Toor challenged the summons before the Islamabad High Court, 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 court had earlier directed the agency to furnish the details of the allegations. During the proceedings, Toor’s counsel argued that the NCCIA had still not specified the accusations, making it impossible for his client to respond effectively to the inquiry.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro heard the petition on Thursday.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Attaullah Kundi, informed the court that Asad Toor was willing to join the inquiry but feared that he might be arrested.
“We want to appear in the inquiry, but we do not want to be arrested,” the counsel submitted, adding that allegations of disseminating fake and false information had been levelled against the journalist.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro asked the petitioner’s counsel which specific news report had been termed fake. In response, Advocate Kundi stated that the allegation related to a news report concerning the medical condition of the PTI founder.
After hearing the arguments, the court directed that Asad Toor should not be harassed during the inquiry. The court also summoned the investigating officer in his personal capacity and adjourned further proceedings in the case.
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