National Press Club demands withdrawal of NCCIA notice, says journalists’ rights must be protected
Journalist Asad Ali Toor. Photo: X/ Archive
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency on Wednesday issued a notice to renowned journalist Asad Ali Toor, ordering him to appear before the agency in connection with an investigation into the alleged spread of “false information”.
According to a notice issued by NCCIA’s Cyber Crime Complaint Centre, and also shared by the journalist on his X account, Toor was summoned under section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in connection with the investigation.
The investigation concerned the alleged dissemination of false or false information under section 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016.
🚨🚨@NCCIAOFFICIAL summoned me this Friday, July 31, 2026 due to a complaint from the state.
چشم نم جان شوریدہ کافی نہیں
تہمت عشق پوشیدہ کافی نہیںآج بازار میں پا بہ جولاں چلو
دست افشاں چلو مست و رقصاں چلوخاک بر سر چلو خوں بداماں چلو
راہ تکتا ہے سب شہر جاناں چلوحاکم شہر بھی… pic.twitter.com/bUFJtXxS9N
– Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) July 29, 2026
The notice said that the NCCIA was carrying out an investigation into the matter and identified the complainant as “Through the State”, who was registered on Tuesday.
According to the notice, the allegations relate to the “alleged dissemination, transmission and/or public display of false/false information.”
The agency ordered the journalist to appear in person at the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Center on Saturday to record his side in the investigation, while warning that failure to appear without a legal excuse would be considered an unwillingness to offer a defense and the investigation would continue. ex parte.
He further warned that failure to serve notice was punishable under section 174 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), 1860.
The National Press Club (NPC) strongly condemned the notice, calling it “a disturbing example of an attempt to put pressure on the fundamental rights of freedom of the press and expression.”
In a statement, the APN said that the Constitution guarantees all citizens, particularly journalists, the right to freedom of expression and the performance of their professional duties.
“Subjecting journalists to legal pressure and retaliation for carrying out their professional responsibilities or expressing critical opinions is not a positive sign for any democratic society,” he added.
NPC leaders urged institutions to refrain from putting unnecessary pressure on journalists and to fulfill their responsibilities in accordance with the law, the Constitution and fundamental human rights.
“A free, responsible and safe press is the basis of a strong democratic system,” the statement states, while demanding the immediate withdrawal of the notification addressed to the journalist.
“We demand that the notification addressed to Asad Ali Toor be withdrawn, that the constitutional and legal rights of journalists be fully respected and that the authorities refrain from taking measures that could restrict press freedom or create a sense of insecurity among the journalistic community,” the statement concludes.
