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July 1, 2025 - Comments Off on Three Arrested in Sahiwal Over Online Blasphemy and Sectarian Hate Ahead of Ashura

Three Arrested in Sahiwal Over Online Blasphemy and Sectarian Hate Ahead of Ashura

Sahiwal police arrested three men in separate cases in the last 24 hours for alleged online hate speech, blasphemous content, and sectarian hate. As Ashura on July 6th draws closer, the Punjab government has ordered strict security measures regarding hateful content on social media. DPO Tahir said, “The police are maintaining zero tolerance to such incidents.” The police officer stressed the importance of being cautious while using online platforms and warned against using them to hurt sectarian beliefs. The arrests were made under Sections 295-A and 298-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), as well as Section 11 (hate speech) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2026

June 6, 2025 - Comments Off on NCCI foils major cyber crime network 

NCCI foils major cyber crime network 

In collaboration with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Multan, Pakistani intelligence were able to crack down on an international cybercrime network operating in Pakistan. Five members of a 21-member gang were arrested by Pakistani authorities on the charge of multi-million dollar fraud against foreign nationals, mostly Americans. Earlier this month, US and Dutch authorities cracked down on the group’s activities and blocked scam websites associated with the group. 

Raids in Lahore and Multan found ample digital evidence linking individuals to the group, including mobile phones, laptops and other devices. All parties found guilty have been booked under PECA and other state laws.

Source: https://arynews.tv/pakistans-intelligence-agencies-foil-major-cybercrime-network/  

May 20, 2025 - Comments Off on PTA Denies Reports of YouTube Channel Blocking List

PTA Denies Reports of YouTube Channel Blocking List

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued an official clarification rejecting media reports claiming that a list of YouTube channels has been prepared for blocking by the authority or shared with the federal government.

In a statement released on May 20, 2025, the PTA emphasized that no such list has been formulated or sent to the government. The authority reiterated that its mandate is limited to taking action only against unlawful online content, under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, and in accordance with relevant legal frameworks and procedural rules.

PTA further clarified that criminal proceedings, legal action, or enforcement of other relevant laws fall under the jurisdiction of law enforcement and judicial institutions, not the authority itself.

The statement urged media outlets to verify sensitive news topics through responsible and credible sources before publication to avoid the spread of misinformation and confusion among the public.

Source: https://x.com/PTAofficialpk/status/1924833665680281810

May 9, 2025 - Comments Off on Cyber Blasphemy: Three More Death Sentences Spark Alarm Over Digital Rights

Cyber Blasphemy: Three More Death Sentences Spark Alarm Over Digital Rights

An Islamabad court has handed down three additional death sentences in cyber blasphemy cases under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), bringing the total to 11 since September 2024.

The verdicts come amid mounting concerns over alleged entrapment, manipulated evidence, and collusion between FIA officials and a group known as the “Legal Commission on Blasphemy Pakistan.”

According to a leaked Punjab Special Branch report, dozens may have been falsely accused in what it called the "Blasphemy Business." Families of 101 accused have petitioned the Islamabad High Court for an independent inquiry.

Defense lawyers criticized the trials as biased and lacking procedural fairness, alleging the same pattern of evidence and charges in multiple cases.

One defense lawyer said his client, a university student, was lured with a fake job offer before being arrested. Another said his client had performed Umrah shortly before being accused.

The complainant admitted to using a fake Facebook profile and could not recall key details about the case.

Human rights groups warn the expanding use of PECA for blasphemy prosecutions poses grave risks to freedom of expression and due process in Pakistan’s digital space.

Source: https://nukta.com/cyber-blasphemy-death-penalty

May 8, 2025 - Comments Off on Senior NADRA Official Arrested for Alleged Anti-Army Remarks in WhatsApp Group Under PECA

Senior NADRA Official Arrested for Alleged Anti-Army Remarks in WhatsApp Group Under PECA

A senior National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) official in Lahore was arrested by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for allegedly sharing derogatory remarks about the Pakistan Army in a NADRA employees’ WhatsApp group. According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed that day, the accused (identified as Hina Rehman Sheikh, a senior executive at NADRA Lahore) had posted content deemed a “mischievous act of subversion” against the Army and the state. The FIR cites offences under Sections 20, 24, 24(A) and 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 in this case. Journalist Zahid Gishkori also confirmed the arrest on social media, reporting that a senior NADRA officer was detained for sharing an anti-Army remark via WhatsApp.

Copy of FIRs:

May 2, 2025 - Comments Off on Journalists face growing threats to free expression in 2025: PPF report

Journalists face growing threats to free expression in 2025: PPF report

On the eve of World Press Freedom Day 2025, the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) released a report titled Intimidation on All Fronts: Press Freedom and Media Safety in Pakistan, outlining an increasingly hostile environment for media professionals in the country.

The report highlights that the year began with the passage of the controversial Pakistan Electronic Crimes Amendment Act, 2025, sparking concerns over intensified legal repercussions for online reporting. Alongside this, state-led financial pressure tactics such as withdrawal of advertising from critical outlets–most notably Dawn and Daily Sahafat–were documented.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) reportedly continued to target journalists with impunity, contributing to a "dangerous pattern" of intimidation. PPF recorded at least 34 incidents this year, including arrests, detentions, physical assaults, abductions, defamation notices, and online harassment. Threats extended beyond individuals to their families and property, reinforcing the use of coercive tools to silence dissent.

The report paints a grim picture of shrinking space for free expression in Pakistan, calling attention to the urgent need for stronger protections for media workers.

April 21, 2025 - Comments Off on TikToker Kashif Zameer arrested by Punjab Police for ‘disrespecting police uniform’

TikToker Kashif Zameer arrested by Punjab Police for ‘disrespecting police uniform’

On Friday, TikToker Kashif Zameer was arrested by the Punjab police on charges of disrespecting the police uniform on social media. 

An FIR registered on Thursday by the Punjab police on driver constable Khurram Shahzad under Section 115 of the Police Order 2022 (police officer at any time liable to be called for dutied) stated that in a video posted on TikTok, Zameer was shown at a wedding holding a tray of money in front of Shahzad. 

In an attempt to curb charges, Zameer tried to pass an AI-edited video, where the constable’s uniform was replaced by a plain black shalwar kameez, as the original video However, during an earlier inquiry, the constable confirmed that the video where he was wearing the uniform was real. 

The police’s report stated that by using AI to show a false narrative, Zameer and Shahzad were disrespectful of the police, invoking sections 13 (electronic forgery), and 26 (spoofing) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA).

In a separate video posted by Zameer on his Instagram, he claimed that the man in the video was not a police officer but his personal guard and that the video from the wedding event was altered by his “enemies” through AI to purposefully convict him. Zameer claimed that this was being done because of his vocal support for YouTuber Rajab Butt.

April 12, 2025 - Comments Off on Journalist Junaid Sagar Qureshi Booked Under PECA for ‘False and Provocative’ Video

Journalist Junaid Sagar Qureshi Booked Under PECA for ‘False and Provocative’ Video

Journalist Junaid Sagar Qureshi was booked on Saturday under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 over a video statement that police termed “provocative and false,” according to a police spokesperson.

The FIR, filed by ASI Tariq Mumtaz, states that the complainant saw the video on WhatsApp, in which Qureshi alleged that a dumper ran over a woman in the jurisdiction of the Sir Syed Police Station, triggering public outrage and a violent response involving stone-pelting that injured police officials, including a station house officer.

Upon investigation, authorities stated that no such incident had occurred, and both the claim of the woman being run over and the attack on police were found to be false. As a result, an FIR was registered against Qureshi under Section 21 of PECA, which pertains to spreading false and malicious information.

Since its introduction in 2016, PECA has drawn widespread criticism from rights groups, journalists, and civil society, who have described it as a “black law” used to suppress dissent and curtail press freedom. Over the years, it has been repeatedly invoked against journalists, political workers, and digital rights activists.

Qureshi is the latest in a string of journalists to be booked under PECA in recent weeks. On March 20, Farhan Mallick, founder of Raftar and former Samaa TV news director, was arrested for allegedly running “anti-state” content on YouTube. He was charged under both PECA and the Pakistan Penal Code.

Shortly after, Waheed Murad, a journalist with Urdu News, was also arrested under Sections 9, 10, 20, and 26A of PECA for allegedly glorifying an offence and spreading fake information online.

Earlier this month, a police officer in Karachi was similarly booked under PECA for making derogatory remarks against President Asif Ali Zardari.

These recent cases reflect a worrying trend of increased use of PECA against journalists and dissenting voices, prompting fresh calls for reforms to ensure the protection of press freedom and digital rights in Pakistan.

April 5, 2025 - Comments Off on New director generals for FIA and cybercrime agency announced

New director generals for FIA and cybercrime agency announced

The federal government has announced the appointments of new chiefs for two major law enforcement agencies. Riffat Mukhtar, a grade-21 officer and current Inspector General of the National Highways and Motorway Police, has been appointed as Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Known for his extensive experience, Mukhtar has previously held top roles including IG Sindh and additional secretary in the Interior Ministry. His appointment under the FIA Act, 1974 is expected to strengthen the agency’s response to crimes like terrorism, corruption, and human trafficking.

 

Waqaruddin Syed, a grade-20 officer currently serving within the FIA, has been appointed as the first Director General of the newly established National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). His appointment, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (amended 2025), signals the government’s intent to bolster Pakistan’s cybercrime infrastructure. The NCCIA operates under the Interior Division and will focus on tackling the country’s growing digital threats. Both appointments are effective immediately.