Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act

Arrest warrants were issued for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi after he failed to appear in court multiple times in a case involving alleged misleading statements and defamation of state institutions. Former senator Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry petitioned the Supreme Court against the Lahore High Court's refusal to suspend his sentence for alleged involvement in conspiracy meetings linked to violent events.

A sessions court in Lahore granted post-arrest bail to podcast host Rehan Tariq in a case involving blasphemy laws and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. The court allowed bail with a Rs100,000 surety bond after defense arguments about lack of evidence and constitutional protections were accepted, despite prosecution claims that his podcast questions could provoke religious discord.

The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha's plea challenging the Islamabad High Court's decision to deny their request for suspended sentences. The couple was sentenced to 17 years in jail under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act for social media posts criticizing security forces.

A Lahore sessions court extended the pre-arrest bail of PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar and his wife until July 28, as they face charges of cyber harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation against television actress Momina Iqbal. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency is investigating the case under multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and Pakistan Penal Code.

The Supreme Court issued notices on pleas by lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha seeking an early hearing of their challenge to an Islamabad High Court (IHC) decision denying the suspension of their 17-year sentences under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). The SC adjourned the matter to July 21, while the case stems from a 2025 complaint alleging they disseminated content aligned with hostile groups.

The Lahore High Court ruled that creators or administrators of WhatsApp groups are not automatically criminally liable for members' posts, denying bail to a man accused of sharing blasphemous content. The court emphasized that liability arises only if an individual personally uploads or shares objectionable material, referencing Pakistan Penal Code and Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act sections.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has prioritized cases involving blackmail, harassment, and harm to women's dignity, arresting 10 suspects in Punjab across Lahore, Multan, and Faisalabad. The agency emphasized swift action on such complaints, recovering digital evidence and focusing on cases causing psychological and reputational harm.

A local court in Islamabad reissued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for failing to appear in a case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) alleges he shared misleading content against state institutions. Separately, vlogger Sohrab Barkat was granted a four-day physical remand for a YouTube video related to the Joint Action Committee.

PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar secured interim pre-arrest bail from a Lahore court after being booked for allegedly harassing actor Momina Iqbal. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency registered a case against Chadhar under multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and Pakistan Penal Code, citing allegations of cyber harassment, stalking, and threats. The court barred the agency from arresting Chadhar until June 24.