Islamabad High Court restrains NCCIA from harassing journalist Asad Toor after July 29 summons.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) restrained the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) from harassing Asad Toor during its inquiry. On July 29 the agency issued a notice to Toor for an inquiry into alleged dissemination, transmission, or public exhibition of false or fake information. The notice demanded he appear at the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Islamabad at 11 a.m. on July 31. Toor challenged the summons in the IHC the next day, arguing that the NCCIA had not followed legal requirements and had not supplied details of the allegations. The court directed the agency to describe the accusations in detail. During the hearing, Toor’s counsel, Advocate Attaullah Kundi, said the journalist was willing to cooperate but feared arrest. Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro asked which report was deemed fake. Kundi replied that the allegation concerned a report about the PTI founder’s medical condition. The court concluded that Toor should not be harassed in the inquiry, summoned the investigating officer personally, and adjourned the matter. The National Press Club (NPC) earlier condemned the NCCIA notice, warning about press freedom. NPC leaders stated, "Subjecting journalists to legal pressure and retaliation for performing their professional duties or expressing critical opinions is not a good omen for any democratic society." Toor had previously been arrested in February 2024 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act for allegedly launching a malicious campaign against state institutions and was released in March.