The sister of former prime minister Imran Khan, Noreen Niazi, has been summoned by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency over her alleged ‘false, offensive, and inflammatory comments” against state institutions.
An NCCIA notice, dated July 18, stated: “You have been found to have disseminated false, offensive and inflammatory social media content to defame state institutions and fake narratives.”
The notice, issued under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, stated that the NCCIA was conducting proceedings in the matter. It directed her to appear in-person at the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad to record her statement. It warned that non-compliance would mean she has “nothing to present or state in your defence” and would be punishable under Section 174 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860.
Following the summon, Niazi submitted a written reply to the NCCIA on Monday. Her lawyer, Faisal Malik, while speaking to media remarked that his client had learned about the notice through social media following which they have submitted their preliminary written reply. He remarked that they have requested a copy of any complaint registered against his client, and asked the agency to specify legal provisions under which the notice had been issued.
He added that NCCIA had directed Niazi to appear in person on June 21, but the legal team has asked for four weeks to submit a detailed response to the notice. Quoting his client, he remarked that Niazi has said that “as a Pakistani, she respects all state institutions” and “could never do anything that would bring disrepute to Pakistan.”
It is being claimed that Niazi has been called for an inquiry after she alleged that Operation Marka-e-Haq was a collaboration between the Pakistan armed forces and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while speaking on a YouTube show.
Speaking on the matter, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry remarked: “It makes no difference whether the person is a man or a woman. The law will take its course, and there will be no leniency for anyone found undermining Pakistan’s stability.”
