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September 16, 2025 - Comments Off on Court Directs NCCIA to Decide Petition Against Former President Arif Alvi

Court Directs NCCIA to Decide Petition Against Former President Arif Alvi

An ex-officio justice of peace in Lahore has directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to decide, in accordance with law, an application seeking registration of a case against former president Dr Arif Alvi for allegedly making blasphemous remarks.

The order was issued by Additional District & Sessions Judge Shafqat Shahbaz Raja on a petition filed by citizen Shahzad Adnan, who accused the ex-president of committing blasphemy.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that an application was pending before the NCCIA but the agency was reluctant to register an FIR. In response, the NCCIA said the matter had been referred to the Anti-Blasphemous Cell, which would act after receiving evidence.

In his written order, Judge Raja directed the cell to conclude proceedings within the stipulated time and to proceed in line with the law if a cognizable offense was found. The petition was then disposed of.

September 16, 2025 - Comments Off on Senate Committee Condemns Vlogger’s Hate Speech Against Sindhi Community

Senate Committee Condemns Vlogger’s Hate Speech Against Sindhi Community

The Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges, chaired by Syed Waqar Mehdi, strongly condemned a vlogger’s alleged hate speech targeting the Sindhi community.

The committee said Rizwan Razi’s content, aired on national electronic media, was a disruption of federal harmony and an attack on parliamentarians. While PTV terminated his services, senators called it an “inadequate penalty.”

“This is not just a threat to Sindh but to Pakistan’s national integrity,” Senator Mehdi warned, urging permanent measures against such voices.

The panel recommended that Razi be blacklisted, his YouTube channel banned by the PTA, and an investigation launched into his past content.

September 15, 2025 - Comments Off on Resolution Submitted in the Punjab Assembly to Ban TikTok

Resolution Submitted in the Punjab Assembly to Ban TikTok

A resolution seeking a complete ban on TikTok in Pakistan has been submitted in the Punjab Assembly by opposition member Farrukh Javed Moon.

The resolution argues that a “TikTok mafia” is promoting obscenity and nudity through live chat, luring the younger generation, particularly children, toward immorality. It claims that young boys and girls engage in obscene conversations and encourage each other to immoral acts, which is contrary to Islamic social values.

It further states that youth are increasingly attracted to TikTok for cheap fame and money-making, creating disorder in society. The resolution urges the federal government to immediately impose a nationwide ban on TikTok and its live chat feature to protect young people from “moral destruction.”

It is noteworthy that TikTok has faced temporary bans in Pakistan in the past, largely over concerns of immoral content and its negative impact on users’ mental and moral development. 

September 14, 2025 - Comments Off on Shabbar Zaidi Says Pakistan Cannot Regulate Cryptocurrencies

Shabbar Zaidi Says Pakistan Cannot Regulate Cryptocurrencies

Former FBR chairman Shabbar Zaidi said Pakistan’s tightly controlled financial system prevents effective regulation of cryptocurrencies, though they are increasingly used as an alternative to hawala.

Speaking at a PIIA session, he noted that around nine million Pakistanis hold or trade digital assets, mainly Bitcoin, and that virtual currencies are already used in trade settlements with China. He argued that “a currency born unregulated cannot be regulated,” stressing crypto’s reliance on anonymity, unlike Pakistan’s digitisation drive focused on traceability.

Zaidi cited India’s rejection of crypto and its growth in the US, linking it to political support under Donald Trump, who he claimed earned $2.4bn from virtual currencies.

Experts added that despite regulation challenges, crypto use in Pakistan will likely keep growing, especially under strict foreign exchange controls limiting cross-border payments. 

September 13, 2025 - Comments Off on Crackdown on Anti-State Social Media Campaigns Intensifies

Crackdown on Anti-State Social Media Campaigns Intensifies

The federal government has intensified its crackdown on anti-state campaigns being run on social media, with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) taking the lead in identifying and prosecuting those involved.

According to official information, the NCCIA has registered 356 FIRs across Pakistan against individuals accused of spreading anti-state propaganda online. In addition, 789 enquiries have been initiated into suspects posting content targeting state institutions.

During the recent Marka-e-Haq campaign, when anti-army posts gained traction online, the agency registered 52 cases against individuals allegedly involved in spreading content against the armed forces.

Officials said NCCIA also assisted police in the investigation of the May 9, 2025, incident, where social media was allegedly used to orchestrate attacks. By analysing suspects’ digital footprints and old posts, investigators established evidence that led to multiple convictions in Lahore, Sargodha, and Mianwali.

To curb online misuse, multiple Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) have been formed. NCCIA also works closely with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for timely removal of harmful content, while identified accounts are regularly forwarded to platforms for blocking.

The agency’s Open Source Intelligence Unit (OSINT) continues to monitor online activity to detect emerging propaganda patterns, with the goal of preventing disinformation before it spreads.

Officials maintain these measures are necessary to protect national security and safeguard state institutions from coordinated digital disinformation campaigns.

 

September 11, 2025 - Comments Off on Court Overturns Ban on YouTube Channels

Court Overturns Ban on YouTube Channels

An Islamabad sessions court has set aside a lower court’s order to block 27 YouTube channels, granting relief to 11 petitioners. The original order, issued in June, had targeted channels run by journalists and political commentators for allegedly spreading “fake, misleading, and defamatory” content against the government and armed forces. During the hearing, Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka expressed anger at the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency’s prosecutor, questioning the legal authority to shut down channels and accusing the agency of attempting to misuse the judiciary. The judge’s decision to overturn the ban for the petitioners is a significant victory for freedom of speech and highlights the judiciary's role in safeguarding digital rights against potential overreach by state agencies.

 

September 11, 2025 - Comments Off on Interfaith Body Set Up to Tackle Hate Speech

Interfaith Body Set Up to Tackle Hate Speech

The government has formed the National Paigham-i-Aman Committee (NPAC), an interfaith body tasked with countering extremism, terrorism, and hate speech in the country. The committee, which includes clerics, religious leaders, and senior officials, will draft a unified national narrative to promote peace and religious moderation. According to a notification, the panel will specifically address the spread of extremist narratives through media and cyber networks. This initiative is an extension of the 2018 Paigham-i-Pakistan initiative, and aims to centralize national efforts and implement practical steps to stop divisive forces in society and encourage a more inclusive and strategic approach to peacebuilding.

September 10, 2025 - Comments Off on Pakistan Forms Committee to Counter Extremism

Pakistan Forms Committee to Counter Extremism

Pakistan has formed a 'National Committee on Narrative Building' to combat terrorism and extremism by creating a cohesive national narrative. This 20-member body, led by the Information Minister, will include representatives from the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The committee's primary objective is to use media and cyber networks to counter extremist propaganda, as outlined in the revised National Action Plan.

 

 

September 10, 2025 - Comments Off on Senate Panel Rules Many PECA Cases Illegal

Senate Panel Rules Many PECA Cases Illegal

A Senate Standing Committee, chaired by Senator Syed Ali Zafar, has ruled that 378 cases registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) by provincial authorities are illegal and must be withdrawn immediately. The committee emphasized that PECA should not be used as a tool for censorship against journalists or the public. According to a report from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), 1,214 cases have been registered nationwide, with ten against journalists.

 

 

September 10, 2025 - Comments Off on PTA Denies Breaches in Licensed Sector

PTA Denies Breaches in Licensed Sector

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has denied that the recent SIM data leak originated from its licensed telecom sector. The authority stated that it does not hold or manage subscribers' data, which remains with telecom operators. The PTA's initial review suggests that the leaked datasets were likely compiled from multiple external sources, as they include family details, vehicle registrations, and travel records. The statement comes after the interior ministry formed an inquiry committee to investigate the data leak. The PTA referenced a recent cybersecurity audit, which found no breaches within its licensed sector, and highlighted the ongoing challenge of combating cybercrime.