NCCIA under fire over social media figures, PECA cases and newspaper column complaint

Islamabad: A controversy has erupted over the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) after a Senate committee questioned differences in social media statistics, delays in transferring PECA cases and the registration of complaints linked to a newspaper column.

The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting has sought answers from NCCIA over claims that figures shared earlier with lawmakers were later described as incorrect by its own officials. The committee questioned how NCCIA could provide one set of figures before the Senate and later have its officials reportedly distance themselves from those numbers.

The dispute mainly focused on claims about fake social media accounts and content removal requests. Earlier figures suggested that around 20 percent of social media accounts were fake, but questions were raised after officials allegedly suggested that the number was much lower.

The committee also questioned claims that 83 percent of content removal requests received responses from social media companies. Officials explained that a response from platforms does not always mean the request was accepted or action was taken. They said some requests were accepted while others were rejected, but companies provided replies.

During the meeting, NCCIA officials defended the figures and said the data was publicly available online. They said the 83.64 percent response figure related to Meta was available through official reports and could be verified by anyone through the internet.

Officials said if journalists had checked the available reports before publishing news, the confusion could have been avoided. They also explained that Pakistan’s response rate was compared with India’s figures, noting that both countries’ data was available online.

Another major issue discussed was the transfer of cases under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The committee questioned why provinces had not transferred all relevant cases to NCCIA after PECA powers were shifted. NCCIA officials informed the committee that hundreds of cases existed across Pakistan.

According to the briefing, Islamabad had 19 cases, Punjab had 268, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had 47, Balochistan had 7, Sindh had 21, Azad Jammu and Kashmir had 10, while Gilgit Baltistan had none. The total number mentioned was 372 cases across Pakistan.

Officials said only nine cases from Sindh Police had so far been transferred to NCCIA, while many others were still pending. Committee members questioned why cases already before courts or under trial were not being transferred.

They said earlier instructions had been issued to provincial authorities to move investigation stage cases to NCCIA, but the orders had not been fully followed. The committee decided to again contact provincial police chiefs and legal authorities to ask why transfers were delayed.

The most sensitive discussion came a complaint related to journalist Toufeeq Butt’s column published in Daily Nai Baat. The column titled “Bero Corrupts” became controversial after the Pakistan Administrative Services Association filed a complaint.

The complainant argued that the term used in the article was insulting and damaging to the reputation of civil servants. NCCIA officials clarified that no case had been registered against the writer.

They said only a complaint was received and an inquiry process started to hear both sides. Toufeeq Butt was issued notices to provide his explanation, but officials said he did not appear after receiving two notices.

The committee debated whether NCCIA should handle newspaper content or if such matters should go to press related institutions. Members warned that allowing every complaint against newspapers and journalists to reach the NCCIA could create a flood of cases.

They pointed out that newspapers are regulated by the Press Council while television is handled by PEMRA. Some members argued that asking for an explanation differed from taking legal action. They said every person has the right to present their side before any decision is made.

Others warned that using cybercrime laws for newspaper related matters could open a new door for pressure against journalists. Chairman directed NCCIA to refer both the complaint and the complainant to the Press Council of Pakistan, being the appropriate forum to examine the published column and decide the matter.