Quetta journalists face PECA cases as home raids reported

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 November 2026 |  JP Staff Report

Voicepk Urdu reported that three Quetta journalists face PECA cases and that their homes were raided. The Balochistan government says the cases concern alleged fake news; the journalists dispute the action.

Summary

QUETTA — Three journalists face cases under Pakistan’s cybercrime law, and their homes have been raided, Voicepk Urdu reported on November 5, adding accounts from the journalists to an earlier government announcement of legal action.

The report identified the journalists as Agha Obaid, Maqbool Jafar and Sana Achakzai. It said the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had registered cases under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, known as PECA, and that none of the three had been arrested at the time of publication. Registration of a case is not a conviction.

Journalist describes video and FIR

Obaid told Voicepk that speculation about the Chief Minister House circulated in Quetta on October 29 and 30 and that eight or nine sources gave him information. He said he posted a four-minute video on October 31 and that a first information report, or FIR, was registered against him about half an hour later.

He said he received no notice before the FIR and that his home was raided the following day. Jafar, whom Voicepk identified as associated with Balochistan Image News, called the action vindictive. He alleged night-time raids, beatings of journalists and harassment of women in homes, saying some operations took place without a female constable.

Government and union responses

Balochistan government adviser Shahid Rind confirmed the cases to Voicepk and said the government had the right to take legal action against fake news. Voicepk said it sought comment from the NCCIA but received no response.

The provincial government’s position had been made public earlier. Quetta Voice reported on November 2 that Rind told a press conference at the Quetta Press Club that cases against the three had been registered through the NCCIA. The Nation reported on November 3 that Rind described a report involving the Chief Minister House and state institutions as fabricated and said a formal complaint had been made. His description is the government’s allegation, not a finding that the reporting was false.

According to The Nation, Rind also said the government had previously clarified its position and raised concerns about the reports with the press club and journalists’ union.

Balochistan Union of Journalists president Manzoor Baloch told Voicepk that the union had begun an inquiry and was contacting the journalists to establish their positions and the facts. He said the union would support them if they stood by their reporting and account, and that journalists should have evidence for their reporting.

Balochistan High Court lawyer Abdul Hakeem Zareen told Voicepk that a constitutional petition could be filed against the relevant authorities. He described a possible legal step, not a petition already filed or a court order.

ATTRIBUTION: Prepared by JournalismPakistan staff, based on Voicepk Urdu’s report of November 5, 2026, Quetta Voice’s report of November 2, 2026, and The Nation’s report of November 3, 2026.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.