The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday ordered the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to ensure that all operations targeting the anti-judiciary campaign are conducted strictly within the bounds of the law.
Read More: Eight held for anti-judiciary campaign on social media, LHC told
Justice Ali Zia Bajwa, passing the order on a petition challenging social media attacks against female judges of the LHC, emphasised that “no illegal or unwarranted harassment shall be caused to any person” and that all actions must adhere to due process. The judge cautioned that safeguarding the dignity of the judiciary cannot become a license for excess, adding that power exercised without law ceases to be authority.
اعلی عدلیہ اور مقتدر اداروں کے حوالے سے غیرمصدقہ معلومات اور نفرت انگیز مواد پھیلانا قانونا جرم ہے
نیشنل سائبر کرائم انویسٹی گیشن ایجنسی NCCIA کو عوامی آگاہی کا پیغام
عوام کی رہنمائی کردی جاتی ” مقتدراداروں ” میں کون کون آتا تو زیادہ آسانی ہوجاتی pic.twitter.com/ug4cE6mvGM
— Umar Daraz Gondal (@umardarazgondal) January 21, 2026
He directed both agencies to ensure that all operations remain lawful, proportionate, and guided by constitutional and statutory safeguards. “This court shall not permit any misuse or abuse of authority by state functionaries under the guise of curbing any campaign against the judiciary,” the order read.
The NCCIA and PTA had submitted updated reports to the court, stating that they were actively engaged in countering malicious campaigns against the judiciary while maintaining vigilance to protect the independence and institutional integrity of the courts.
The NCCIA reported that at least eight individuals had been arrested from various cities in Punjab for allegedly running a social media campaign against Chief Justice Aalia Neelum and other judges. Arrests included Iftikhar Mehmood Chaudhry (Islamabad), Rana Sarwar and Shahbaz Amin (Lahore), and five others from Multan. Separately, the court issued a show-cause notice to lawyer Akmal Khan over contempt proceedings; though he offered an unconditional apology, he refused to submit it in writing.
Read More: LHC seeks details of buildings allowed for Basant
The NCCIA also registered a case against a YouTube channel, “Siyasi Dera” hosted by Ihsanullah Chattha (popularly known as Mitha Gee), for allegedly posting defamatory content against judges. The FIR was later quashed due to overlap with an Islamabad circle case. Reports indicate that lawyer Azeem Danyal has been missing since an NCCIA case was filed against him for allegedly spreading contemptuous content.