Noreen’s lawyer says the NCCIA has ordered her to appear on Tuesday; legal team seeks four weeks to respond
Photo of Noreen Niazi, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. PHOTO: SCREEN CAPTURE
ISLAMABAD:
The lawyer of Noreen Niazi, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan, said on Monday that an initial written response had been submitted to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) after the agency issued her a notice over a controversial interview.
On Saturday, the NCCIA summoned Noreen for investigation after she gave an interview, alleging that Operation Marka-e-Haq It was a collaboration between Pakistan’s armed forces and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to reporters after appearing before the NCCIA, lawyer Faisal Malik said Noreen Niazi came to know about the notice through social media on Monday morning, following which her legal team submitted a preliminary written response to the agency.
Malik said the defense had requested a copy of any complaint registered against his client and asked the agency to specify the legal provisions under which the notice had been issued.
He said the NCCIA had ordered Noreen to appear before the agency in person on Tuesday. However, the legal team had requested four weeks to submit a detailed response to the notice.
Citing his client, Malik said Noreen maintained that “as a Pakistani, she respects all state institutions” and “could never do anything that would bring Pakistan into disrepute.”
Read: ‘There will be no leniency,’ warns Talal on Noreen Niazi’s comments
Malik added that Noreen Niazi would not be able to appear before the NCCIA on Tuesday.
According to a notice issued by NCCIA’s Cyber Crime Complaint Center on Saturday, Noreen had been directed to appear before the agency on Monday to record her statement in connection with the investigation.
The notification, issued under section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code, said the NCCIA was conducting proceedings in the matter.
The notice ordered him to personally appear at NCCIA’s Cyber Crime Complaint Center in Islamabad to record his statement. He warned that failure to comply would mean “that he has nothing to present or declare in his defence” and would be punishable under section 174 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860.
The notice was issued after Noreen made comments about Marka-e-Haq and the Pakistan Army during an interview on a YouTube channel.
In the interview, Noreen alleged that Marka-e-Haq It was a collaboration between Pakistan’s armed forces and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He further stated that India refrained from attacking Pakistan at Israel’s request because Pakistan was moving towards recognition of Israel.
“Modi could have solved them in two minutes if he wanted to. Why did Modi stop? What was he afraid of? India is such a big country. Look at that country and then look at yourself,” he said.
He also alleged that Israel was “behind” the events and stated that Pakistan was prepared to join countries that had established diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
