Journalist Nadir Baloch files IHC petition to halt NCCIA summons

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 19 February 2026 |  JP Staff Report

Nadir Baloch filed a writ in the Islamabad High Court seeking suspension of repeated NCCIA summonses, saying the notices give no specific allegations or complaint copies. He asks the court to halt further action and bar what he calls illegal harassment.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Journalist Nadir Baloch has filed a writ petition in the Islamabad High Court seeking suspension of repeated summonses issued by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), asserting the notices amount to harassment without clarity on allegations against him.

Baloch, represented by Advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq and Barrister Qadir Janjua, says in the petition that he has been summoned at least three times but has not been informed of any specific charges or provided copies of complaints. According to his tweet about the filing, the summons has demanded his appearance in Lahore without explanation.

Court challenge targets lack of transparency in notices

Baloch’s petition argues that the NCCIA’s actions violate basic legal fairness by withholding details of the allegations and failing to serve the complainant’s application. He requested the high court to immediately halt ongoing notices and bar the agency from further pursuing what he described as “illegal harassment.” Baloch framed the case as not only personal but also implicating broader press freedom and citizens’ rights in Pakistan.

Journalism advocacy groups have previously raised an alarm about the NCCIA’s use of cybercrime provisions against journalists. Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned similar summonses to Baloch in late 2025 and early 2026, saying the agency should cease intimidation tied to reporting and protect journalists’ safety and free expression. The organization noted that the summons and online harassment appear linked to his human rights reporting, including investigations into alleged misuse of blasphemy laws.

Legal context of cybercrime notices

Under Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and cybercrime rules, authorities can issue notices for online content deemed objectionable, but legal experts and press freedom advocates say vague and unexplained summons raise due process concerns. In other high-profile cases, journalists like Sohrab Barkat and others have faced legal action under similar frameworks, prompting debate over the scope and application of cybercrime laws and free speech protections.

Baloch told CPJ he had formally asked the NCCIA to specify defamatory content before appearing for any interrogation, but was ignored. Previous reporting noted that the original summons named a complainant but did not identify which of his reports were considered objectionable.

WHY THIS MATTERS: This case highlights ongoing concerns over how cybercrime laws are applied to reporters and may signal evolving legal interpretations that affect digital journalism, investigative reporting, and editorial decision-making. It underscores the need for media professionals to understand legal risks tied to online content and for newsrooms to develop strategies for legal support and risk mitigation.

ATTRIBUTION: This story is based on verified public reporting from CPJ and related legal context on journalist summons under NCCIA and cybercrime law as documented by JournalismPakistan.com.

PHOTO: Nadir Baloch (X @BalochNadir5)