PTI MNA Junaid Akbar booked under PECA over ‘Somnath’ remarks

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has registered a case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Member of the National Assembly Junaid Akbar over an allegedly threatening statement made in a video.

FIR No. 152/2026 was registered on behalf of the state at the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad. The case has been registered under Sections 9, 10 and 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

According to the FIR, the case relates to remarks in which Akbar allegedly referred to turning Islamabad into “Somnath”. Investigators alleged that the statement could create fear and insecurity and pose a threat to public safety.

The FIR also accused the PTI leader of allegedly spreading anti-state content and a narrative through social media. It stated that the material was shared through his official TikTok account, which has around 339,500 followers.

The case comes as PTI prepares for its planned protest and march towards Islamabad on September 27. Akbar had made the remarks while addressing a PTI gathering in Peshawar ahead of the planned demonstration.

According to reports cited in connection with the controversy, Akbar spoke about PTI supporters approaching Islamabad through different routes, including the motorway and Grand Trunk Road. He also referred to routes through the Margalla Hills and from Dera Ismail Khan.

The remarks subsequently triggered a political and legal controversy. The FIR alleged that the content could promote fear, unrest and risks to public and government property.

Akbar later defended his remarks and said his reference to Somnath had been given a “wrong spin”. He maintained that his comments referred to PTI repeatedly returning to Islamabad and said the party remained committed to peaceful and constitutional protest.

The NCCIA case adds a legal dimension to the controversy surrounding the planned PTI protest. The agency will now investigate the allegations contained in the FIR and the social media material cited in the case.