On September 26, the Lahore High Court (LHC) suspended notices issued by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to six journalists, including Lahore Press Club (LPC) President Arshad Ansari, Ahmad Faraz, Mujahid Sheikh, Waseem Sabir, Yasir Shamoon, and Sheraz Nisar. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum presided over the case, questioning the legality and selective nature of these notices.
The notices had been served following accusations of running a malicious campaign on social media. The journalists, Arshad Ansari, Mujahid Sheikh, Ahmad Faraz, Waseem Sabir, Yasir Shamoon, and Sheikh Mujahid Latif, argued that their criticisms were professional commentary on the establishment of the Crime Control Department (CCD) and the controversial appointment of Faisal Kamran as Deputy Inspector General (DIG). They alleged that these actions had provoked a retaliatory smear campaign against them, led by DIG Kamran, which utilized social media platforms and involved retired police officials.
During the court proceedings, the petitioners contended that the NCCIA had overstepped its bounds by issuing rapid, successive notices, which they believed were intended to harass and malign them. The initial notice was delivered on September 20, with a follow-up just four days later, demanding their appearance the next day, indicative of what the petitioners claimed was a misuse of authority.
The Chief Justice, after hearing the arguments and noting the absence of clear regulations governing the issuance of such notices, called for a detailed report from the NCCIA. The court directed the Investigating Officer (IO) of NCCIA to produce the complete case record by October 14.
The petitioners had also highlighted their role in exposing alleged flaws in police administration and the rising crime rate, which they believed led to the vindictive actions by the NCCIA. They requested the court to declare the notices “illegal, unlawful, and void ab initio” and to suspend their implementation until a final decision was reached.
Deputy Attorney General Rafaqat Dogar represented the federal government but did not provide immediate clarity on the procedural grounds for the notices. The court’s decision to suspend the notices was seen as a temporary relief for the journalists, pending a thorough judicial review scheduled for the mid-October hearing.
