The Islamabad High Court has issued an important interim order restraining authorities from taking arbitrary, retaliatory, or disciplinary action against officers of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). The court directed that no officer shall be dismissed, removed, or subjected to adverse action until further hearings, and ordered the immediate release of withheld salaries.
The ruling came in response to petitions filed by NCCIA officers, many of whom have been serving on contract since the cyber crime wing was established under the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in 2007. The court emphasized that any action against government officials must strictly comply with constitutional protections and due process.
The petitioners argued that despite handling thousands of cyber crime complaints annually , including cases related to digital fraud, harassment, and online scams , officers have faced stalled promotions, job insecurity, and salary suspensions.
Currently, only around 455 personnel are managing cyber crime operations across Pakistan, creating an overwhelming workload. Legal experts say the court’s intervention sends a strong message that administrative powers cannot be exercised without lawful justification. The matter will be taken up again in the next hearing.
