LHC suspends NCCIA proceedings against Imran Shafqat

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 12 August 2026 |  JP Staff Report

The Lahore High Court Multan Bench has suspended proceedings initiated by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Multan against senior journalist Imran Shafqat after a petition challenging the agency's jurisdiction.

Summary

MULTAN — The Lahore High Court Multan Bench has suspended proceedings by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Multan against senior journalist Imran Shafqat, according to a statement posted on X on August 12 by Mian Dawood Law Associates, which represented the journalist.

The law firm said Justice Khalid Ishaq issued a written order on a petition filed by Shafqat challenging the NCCIA proceedings. Advocate Mian Dawood appeared on behalf of the journalist.

According to the statement, the proceedings stem from a complaint filed by Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar with the NCCIA Multan against Shafqat. The complaint was described as relating to allegations that the journalist had criticized the government.

The case has raised a jurisdictional question because Shafqat is based in Lahore while the proceedings were initiated by the NCCIA office in Multan. The agency's Additional Director Cyber Crime Multan submitted a written response to the court, according to the law firm's account.

Jurisdiction remains central to the case

In its response, the NCCIA said the question of whether its inquiry against Shafqat falls within the territorial jurisdiction of Multan still had to be determined. The agency also said it remained necessary to establish whether the allegations against the journalist constituted an offense warranting intervention by the agency.

The NCCIA argued that both questions could be determined after the inquiry progressed. It maintained that the investigation was still at an initial stage and, on that basis, could not yet be challenged, according to the statement.

The agency's position prompted a request for additional time from the inquiry officer, who told the court that a legal opinion was required on the territorial-jurisdiction question.

Court suspends proceedings pending arguments

The court nevertheless suspended the entire NCCIA Multan proceedings against Shafqat, according to Mian Dawood Law Associates. The court fixed September 28 for final arguments.

The order means the NCCIA proceedings will remain on hold while the court considers the legal questions raised by the petition. The available account does not indicate that the court has made a final determination on the allegations against Shafqat or on whether the NCCIA has jurisdiction to pursue the matter.

The distinction is significant because a suspension of proceedings is not a final ruling on the underlying allegations. The September 28 hearing is expected to provide the next substantive opportunity for the parties to address the jurisdictional and other legal questions identified in the proceedings.

Implications for journalists

The case places renewed attention on the use of cybercrime investigation mechanisms in disputes involving journalists and criticism of public officials. In 2025, Freedom Network documented several cases involving journalists and NCCIA proceedings in Punjab and reported instances in which the Lahore High Court intervened to suspend notices or proceedings against journalists. Those cases were separately documented and should not be treated as evidence of the merits of the present case.

For journalists, the outcome of the Shafqat petition could have implications beyond the individual case, particularly if the court addresses how territorial jurisdiction should operate when a complaint is pursued through an NCCIA office located outside the journalist's place of residence or professional activity.

The case also underscores the importance of due process when cybercrime laws are invoked in matters involving journalistic expression. Any eventual judicial determination on jurisdiction and the legal basis of the inquiry could help clarify the limits of agency action in cases involving journalists and criticism of government officials.

بریکنگ نیوز

لاہور ہائیکورٹ ملتان بنچ نے سینئر صحافی عمران شفقت کیخلاف NCCIA ملتان کی کارروائی معطل کر دی

جسٹس خالد اسحاق نے عمران شفقت کی درخواست پر تحریری حکم جاری کیا

سینئر صحافی کی طرف سے میاں دائود ایڈووکیٹ پیش ہوئے

لاہور سے منتخب وفاقی وزیر اطلاعات عطا اللہ تارڑ نے حکومت… https://t.co/SKKpNnuRfOpic.twitter.com/xesoHUZyXj

— Mian Dawood Law Associates (@MDLA2019) August 12, 2026

Why it matters

The proceedings matter because cybercrime investigations involving journalists can have a direct effect on press freedom, particularly when the underlying dispute concerns criticism of those in government. The Lahore High Court's decision to suspend the proceedings puts the questions of territorial jurisdiction, legal authority, and due process before the judiciary rather than allowing the inquiry to proceed while those issues remain unresolved. The September 28 hearing could therefore have significance for journalists, lawyers, and media organizations dealing with cybercrime complaints arising from journalistic expression.

ATTRIBUTION: This report is based on information posted on X by Mian Dawood Law Associates on August 12, 2026. JournalismPakistan has not independently verified the court order or the underlying complaint.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.