ISLAMABAD: A Senate sub-committee revealed that out of 13 FIRs lodged against journalists, 11 have been dismissed following initial investigations. The meeting, chaired by Senator Sarmad Ali, also discussed cybercrime enforcement and the role of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

According to Senate of Pakistan, the sub-committee, which included Senators Syed Waqar Mehdi and Jan Muhammad, heard from representatives of various police departments and legal experts. The committee was informed about the current status of cybercrime FIRs and the procedural amendments under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2025. Notably, it was highlighted that police stations are no longer authorized to register FIRs for cybercrimes, with complaints being directed to NCCIA unless they involve conventional crimes.

The discussion also covered proposals for establishing provincial entities similar to NCCIA and the challenges of controlling cybercrime without provincial police support. The NCCIA reported receiving 154,000 complaints in the past year, emphasizing the need for robust international cooperation and improved engagement with social media platforms to tackle cybercrime effectively. Senator Sarmad Ali concluded the meeting by stressing the necessity of strengthening NCCIA’s capabilities and ensuring the seamless transfer of cases from provincial police to NCCIA.