Latest news with #PECA
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PHC questions FIR in PECA case
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has issued notices to the federal government and other relevant authorities, seeking a response regarding the registration of an FIR against a local lawyer under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Abdul Fayyaz heard the case. During the proceedings, Justice Syed Arshad Ali questioned the legal basis of the FIR, remarking, "How can the police register a case under the PECA Act when it falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)? How can an SHO file such a case?" The petitioner, Advocate Roman Shah, appeared before the court. Justice Arshad Ali asked him why the FIR had been registered. Shah responded that he was unaware of the specific allegations and only knew that it had been filed under PECA. Justice Abdul Fayyaz noted, "The PECA Act falls within FIA's domain. How did the SHO register the FIR?" Justice Arshad Ali further added, "If the matter is within FIA's jurisdiction, then the SHO has no authority to register such a case." The petitioner informed the court that he had already secured interim bail. The Assistant Attorney General told the bench that the FIR was based on a social media post made from the petitioner's account, allegedly targeting a senior official of a security agency. Justice Arshad Ali questioned the petitioner's actions, asking, "Why do you share such content that creates problems?" In response, Advocate Roman Shah denied ownership of the account, stating, "This is not my account. Nowadays, fake accounts are created using other people's photos. I have no knowledge of this post." Following the hearing, the court issued notices to the federal government and other respondents, directing them to submit their replies.
Express Tribune
14-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Man arrested for blackmailing woman with inappropriate video
Listen to article The National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has taken into custody a man accused of blackmailing a woman using a compromising video and extorting over Rs700,000 in cash from her, officials said on Saturday. According to an official statement, a case was registered on the victim's complaint, who alleged that the accused, identified as Ghulam Kazim, had secretly recorded an inappropriate video of her. He allegedly used the footage to threaten and blackmail her, demanding both money and illicit favours under the threat of releasing the video on social media, she added. The woman told investigators that Kazim had already extorted Rs700,000 from her in hush money. Acting on the complaint, the NCCIA arrested the suspect during a raid on Autobahn Road in Hyderabad. The agency also seized his mobile phone, which reportedly contained incriminating data, including the video used for blackmail. The accused, a resident of Sobho Dero in district Khairpur, was taken into custody and an FIR was registered against him under Sections 21 and 24 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, as well as Sections 109 and 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Officials said that further investigations are under way to determine if the accused was involved in similar offences against other victims.
Business Recorder
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PECA Act: Respondents asked to submit comments
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) gave a deadline to the respondents to submit comments in the petitions challenging amendments in the PECA Act. A single bench of Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas on Wednesday heard the petitions of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), anchors association and Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA). In the petition, counsel of the journalist body adopted the stance that the PECA (Amendment) Act is unconstitutional and illegal; hence, the court should conduct judicial review on it. The petition said the PECA (Amendment) 2025 increased the government control and restrictions on freedom of speech. It said the PECA law violated Article 19 and 19(A) of the Constitution as well. Therefore, it pleaded, the law should be suspended. PECA amendments challenged in SC During the hearing, Advocate Imran Shafiq and other lawyers appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioners. Advocate Shafiq said the federal government has filed its reply only through the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Information while the Ministry of Law and Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and the PTA have not submitted any response yet. He informed the bench that the federal government has raised a question on the jurisdiction of this court. He added that the federation has stated that after the 26th Constitutional Amendment, only the Constitutional Bench of the High Court can hear this case. The lawyer said the second objection was raised while giving a reference of a Quranic verse that before spreading the words, do research. The lawyer said the FIRs are being registered against people and the court should hear this case soon. The IHC bench asked whether there is no news going on? Is someone preventing news from being given or published? Riasat Ali Azad advocate prayed the court to issue a stay order that there will be no FIR or arrest against the journalist for reporting the news. He said that the parties are not submitting a response and are taking time from the court. Journalist Mazhar Abbas said that an atmosphere of harassment has been created in the media industry and the journalists are being summoned and harassed by the FIA. The petitioner's lawyer said the parties should be directed to file their replies and provide a copy of the replies to the petitioners in advance before the next hearing. Justice Inaam remarked that even if the response is not filed, the hearing will still be continued. He said that this case would take a long time and therefore, it will be scheduled after Eid. Later, the court deferred hearing of the case till the second week of July. The PFUJ said in the petition that the law infringed international human rights as well as digital rights in Pakistan. The petition read: '…a writ may be issued declaring that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 is unconstitutional, being violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, due process, fair trial, and the concept of regulatory independence, as well as the doctrines of fairness, proportionality, reasonableness, and constitutional limitations or restrictions, hence void, and liable to be struck down.' Therefore, the PFUJ prayed that the respondents may be restrained and prevented from employing the coercive powers under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, in general, and against the journalist community, in particular till final disposal of the instant petition. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
03-06-2025
- General
- Business Recorder
Challenging JIT under PECA: IHC dismisses PTI leader's plea
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC), Tuesday, dismissed Sheikh Waqas Akram's petition challenging the Joint Investigation Team (JIT)'s notice issued to him under Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016. The JIT has summoned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader to investigate about the party's alleged social media campaign against the state institutions. The case was fixed before a single bench of Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas on Tuesday. The case was called twice, but neither Sheikh Waqas nor his counsel appeared before the Court, the judge; therefore, dismissed the petition for non-prosecution. The petition filed by PTI leader, Sheikh Waqas Akram, through Barrister Muhammad Umer Riaz challenging the JIT and the proceedings of PECA against him. The petitioner has challenged the JIT notification dated 26.07.2024 terming it illegal, unlawful, and in violation of Section 30 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, and Schedule VII of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Investigation Rules, 2018. The petitioner contended that the impugned notification is illegal and unlawful, asking to appear before JIT, constituted under Section 30 of the Act of 2016 and Schedule VII the Rules, 2018. He submitted that Section 30 of the Act of 2016 provides certain conditions for formation of JIT to investigate the offence under the Act of 2016. He contended that this offence is neither defined nor covered under the notification dated 26.07.2024. He also stated that, as per the impugned notification, the Inspector General of Police of ICT, Islamabad, is heading the JIT, which is a complete violation of Section 2 of PECA 2016. The petitioner stated that Rule 16 is very clear that a time-frame for the offence ought to be mentioned in the notification, whereas, in this notification, no such thing is mentioned. He argued that, since the agency has already been established, there was no need to formulate a JIT, which is in violation of Section 29 of the PECA Act 2016. The JIT is investigating 16 individuals, including senior PTI leaders, for their alleged involvement in negative propaganda on social media. Meanwhile, a single bench of IHC Justice Muhammad Asif issued notices to the authorities in a petition seeking quashment of an FIR registered against former JI Senator Mushtaq Ahmed and his wife Humaira Tayyaba for allegedly violating Section 144 during the Gaza protest. The bench directed all parties to submit their responses by today (Wednesday). Police detained the former senator, his wife and other demonstrators were arrested for participating in a protest held outside the Islamabad Press Club against the ongoing Israeli atrocities in Gaza, and the case was registered at Kohsar Police Station on May 30 as the protest was deemed a violation of Section 144. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Arab News
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan launches cybercrime helpline seeking swift action on complaints
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday launched a cybercrime helpline, 1799, that aims to ensure swift resolution of complaints, Pakistani state media reported. The development came during Naqvi's visit to the headquarters of the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which was established earlier this year, the APP news agency reported. The minister toured various departments, including the helpline center, forensic lab and network security section, and appreciated the staff for their efforts to combat cybercrime. 'The helpline is now fully operational, and citizens can lodge cybercrime complaints by calling 1799,' the interior minister was quoted as saying. Pakistan transformed the Cybercrime Wing of its Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) into an autonomous organization and named it the NCCIA in April. It followed the introduction of a new law to regulate social media content, with journalist groups and rights activists saying it was aimed at curbing press freedom and dissent on social media. Enacted in 2016 and further tightened with amendments this January, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) was drafted with the stated aim to combat cybercrimes such as hacking, online harassment, and data breaches. Pakistani officials defended the PECA law, under which offenders can be handed prison sentences of up to three years and fines of Rs2 million ($7,200). Naqvi directed NCCIA officials to ensure quick resolution of all complaints, saying the agency was established to meet the demands of the modern digital era, according to the report. He emphasized the need for the use of advanced technology, software and hardware to fight cybercrime effectively and stressed the need to hire talented staff and equiping them with all necessary resources. The development came as authorities announced busting a child sexual abuse ring, allegedly run by a German national, in Azad Kashmir's capital of Muzaffarabad. 'A state-of-the-art facility was formed with modern cameras and over there, children from poor families were exploited by giving money first and then blackmailing,' State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said at a presser on Tuesday. 'Their videos were sold on the dark web.' The NCCIA busted the ring in a five-hour operation on May 23 and arrested two suspects, according to the minister. Ten kids were also found at the facility, of which six were sent to the Child Protection Bureau. 'The German man used to facilitate and sell this [content],' Chaudhry said, without disclosing the identity of the suspect. 'We are trying to reach him legally.' Child sexual abuse has been a widespread issue in Pakistan, where perpetrators are often family members, teachers or trusted people. Poverty, lack of education and societal attitudes contribute to the problem. While laws exist, their implementation remains a challenge. Various NGOs are also working to raise awareness about the issue and support survivors.
