NCCIA barred from targeting newspapers and journalists over published columns

A Senate committee accused the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) of presenting disputed social media figures and later denying

Islamabad: A Senate committee accused the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) of presenting disputed social media figures and later denying its own data, warning that no government agency can mislead Parliament.

The committee also took serious notice of reports that NCCIA had issued notices to newspapers and columnists over material published in print and on newspaper websites. Members said such action did not fall within the agency’s legal powers and could amount to harassing journalists and media organisations.

The matter was discussed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, chaired by Senator Sarmad Ali. The committee directed NCCIA to clearly explain whether the figures it had earlier presented regarding social media accounts and users were correct.

According to the committee, NCCIA officials had provided the figures during an earlier meeting, and the numbers were formally recorded in the meeting minutes. However, the agency later reportedly distanced itself from those same figures through statements carried by television channels and newspapers.

Senator Sarmad Ali said NCCIA must tell the committee whether the information originally presented before Parliament was authentic or whether its later denial was correct. He said the Senate and its committees could not be misled.

Committee members suggested that the official who prepared, signed or presented the disputed figures should be summoned and asked to reveal the source of the data. The committee directed NCCIA to submit verified and updated figures instead of providing conflicting information.

The controversy became more serious after reports that the agency had issued notices to newspapers asking why certain columns had been published. Senator Sarmad Ali said NCCIA had no authority to question a newspaper about a print column.

He recalled that when amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act were being discussed, the information minister had assured media representatives that newspapers, television channels and their websites would not be treated the same way as ordinary social media accounts.

He said newspapers were already governed by press laws and the institutions created to deal with print journalism. The committee specifically discussed complaints involving the newspaper Nayi Baat and columnist Taufeeq Butt.

Members were informed that the columnist was allegedly being pursued after a complaint linked to an association of Pakistan Administrative Service officers in Punjab. Senator Sarmad Ali questioned how an association of serving government officers could collectively approach NCCIA against a journalist over a newspaper column.

He said representatives of the association should be summoned and asked to explain their conduct. The committee formally directed NCCIA not to take action against newspapers, their websites or material originally published as newspaper content.

It said these matters did not come under the agency’s mandate. Another major issue involved cybercrime cases provincial police registered under PECA. The committee was told that provincial police departments had earlier registered such cases even though NCCIA was supposed to handle cybercrime investigations.

At a previous meeting attended by the inspectors general of all four provinces, the police chiefs had reportedly been directed to transfer these cases to NCCIA. Senator Sarmad Ali ordered the committee secretariat to seek reports from all four provincial police chiefs confirming how many cases they had transferred.

NCCIA was also directed to provide a complete report showing whether it had actually received the cases. The agency will be called to the next committee meeting to answer questions about the disputed social media figures, notices sent to journalists and the status of transferred cases.

The committee made it clear that cybercrime laws must be used within legal limits and should not become a tool to pressure newspapers, columnists or working journalists. It said accountability was necessary because an agency responsible for investigating online crimes must itself follow the law, provide correct information and respect Parliament’s authority.