ISLAMABAD: Vlogger and journalist Asad Ali Toor on Thursday challenged the notice issued by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Yesterday, the NCCIA issued a notice to Toor for an inquiry into “alleged dissemination, transmission and/or public exhibition of false/fake information” by him. The journalist was directed to appear before the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Islamabad at 11am on July 31.

The petition, filed through Advocate Attaullah Kundi, names the interior secretary, the NCCIA and other relevant authorities as respondents.

The petition requested the court to declare the notice issued by the NCCIA null and void and added that Toor reports on various matters, including judicial affairs.

“It has been contended that the NCCIA failed to fulfil the legal requirements while issuing the notice and did not provide details of the allegations against him,” it stated.

According to the petition, the NCCIA had summoned Toor for July 31. The petitioner further requested the IHC to suspend the NCCIA notice and restrain the agency from taking any action against him.

In its notice to the journalist, the NCCIA had warned that failure to appear “without lawful excuse shall be deemed as your unwillingness to offer any defence, and the inquiry will proceed” in his absence.

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan of the IHC will hear the petition on Friday.

A day earlier, the National Press Club (NPC) condemned the NCCIA notice, expressing alarm at the state of press freedom.

Asserting that the right to freedom of expression was a constitutional right, NPC leadership said, “Subjecting journalists to legal pressure and retaliation for performing their professional duties or expressing critical opinions is not a good omen for any democratic society.”

NPC urged institutions to play their respective roles in accordance with law, constitution and fundamental human rights.

“Free, responsible and safe journalism is the foundation of a strong democratic system,” NPC said, demanding that notice be withdrawn and the “constitutional and legal rights” of journalists be respected.

It warned against steps curtailing freedom of the press and fostering “insecurity among the journalist community”.

Toor was also arrested in 2024 under Peca for allegedly launching a malicious campaign against state institutions, a move that drew criticism from the media fraternity. He was later released.