NCCIA summons journalist Asad Toor under Peca for alleged dissemination of 'fake info'

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency on Wednesday issued a notice to renowned journalist Asad Ali Toor, directing him to appear before the agency in connection with an inquiry into the alleged dissemination of "false information". According to a notice issued by the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting 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 inquiry. The inquiry pertained to the alleged dissemination of false or fake information under Section 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016.

🚨🚨@NCCIAOFFICIAL summoned me on this Friday, 31 July 2026 on the complaint of the state. چشم نم جان شوریدہ کافی نہیں تہمت عشق پوشیدہ کافی نہیں آج بازار میں پا بہ جولاں چلو دست افشاں چلو مست و رقصاں چلو خاک بر سر چلو خوں بداماں چلو راہ تکتا ہے سب شہر جاناں چلو حاکم شہر بھی… pic.twitter.com/bUFJtXxS9N — Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) July 29, 2026 The notice stated that the NCCIA was conducting an inquiry into the matter and identified the complainant as "Through State", which was registered on Tuesday. According to the notice, the allegations relate to the "alleged dissemination, transmission and/or public exhibition of false/fake information".

The agency directed the journalist to appear in person at the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre on Saturday to record his version in the inquiry, while warning that failure to appear without lawful excuse would be deemed an unwillingness to offer a defence and the inquiry would proceed ex parte. It further warned that non-compliance with the notice was punishable under Section 174 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), 1860. The National Press Club (NPC) strongly condemned the notice, describing it as "a disturbing example of an attempt to pressure the fundamental rights of press freedom and freedom of expression".

In a statement, the NPC said that the Constitution guaranteed every citizen, particularly journalists, the right to freedom of expression and to perform their professional duties. 🚨🚨 Humbled, national press club of #Islamabad condemn @NCCIAOFFICIAL summons to me and demands withdrawal of the summons. pic.twitter.com/vO7m6eOKXl — Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) July 29, 2026 "Subjecting journalists to legal pressure and retaliatory action for carrying out their professional responsibilities or expressing cr…