IHC Orders NCCIA to Disclose Allegations Against Journalist Asad Toor
The Islamabad High Court on Friday directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency to disclose the allegations and supporting details behind a summons issued to journalist and vlogger Asad Toor. The order came after Toor approached the court, arguing that he could not prepare an effective response without being informed of the specific case against him.
The NCCIA had called Toor to its Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Islamabad at 11am on July 31. The notice referred broadly to an inquiry concerning the alleged circulation or public display of false information but did not identify the material, statements or online posts under examination.
Toor challenged the summons in the IHC a day before his scheduled appearance. His petition maintained that the cybercrime agency had not followed the necessary legal procedure because it withheld the particulars of the accusations and failed to explain what conduct had prompted the inquiry.
Justice Mohammad Azam Khan heard the case, while Advocate Attaullah Kundi represented the journalist. During the proceedings, the court questioned why Toor could not appear before the agency and present his defence, prompting counsel to explain that the absence of clear allegations made a meaningful response impossible.
Kundi asked that all relevant information and material be supplied before his client was required to answer the inquiry. The court subsequently disposed of the petition with instructions for the NCCIA to give Toor the details relating to the allegations, effectively granting the central relief requested in the case.
The National Press Club had already criticised the NCCIA notice after it was issued earlier in the week. Its leadership expressed concern that legal pressure against journalists over their reporting or critical commentary could deepen insecurity within the media community and weaken the constitutional protection of freedom of expression.
The press club also urged state institutions to operate within constitutional and legal boundaries while respecting fundamental rights. It said responsible and secure journalism remained essential for a democratic system and warned against measures that could discourage reporters from covering matters of public interest.
The latest proceedings carry additional significance because Toor has previously faced action under Pakistan’s cybercrime framework. He was arrested in February 2024 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act over accusations that he had conducted a hostile online campaign against state institutions and was released the following month.
The IHC’s direction places renewed attention on procedural fairness in cybercrime investigations, particularly when journalists are summoned over digital content. Providing precise allegations allows an individual to seek legal advice, preserve relevant evidence and respond directly instead of facing an open-ended inquiry without knowing the material being questioned.
The case is also likely to influence the wider debate over how Pakistan’s cybercrime laws are applied to journalists, vloggers and political commentators. Media organisations and digital-rights advocates have repeatedly sought safeguards against vague notices, while authorities maintain that online misinformation must be investigated under the law.
The immediate next step will be for the NCCIA to comply with the court’s direction and share the relevant particulars with Toor. Any further proceedings will depend on the nature of the disclosed allegations, the evidence cited by the agency and the journalist’s response after receiving the requested information.