ISLAMABAD: Noreen Khan Niazi, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, has submitted a formal written reply to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in response to a purported notice issued terming the notice vague, legally defective and coercive.
In her reply dated 20-07-2026 addressed to Sub-Inspector Muhammad Waseem Khan, NCCIA, Building 5-C, Sector G-13/3, Islamabad, Noreen Niazi stated that she has not formally received the notice dated 18-07-2026 and became aware of it only a few hours ago through reports circulating on social media.
She pointed out that the address mentioned on the purported notice, 14 Upper Mall, Lahore, is not her residential address. She is based at 100/A/3, St John Park, Lahore Cantt, as mentioned in her reply, and the direction to appear in Islamabad by 12:00 PM on 20-07-2026 made compliance impractical in any event.
Noreen Niazi, Fazlur Rehman & NCCIA: Pakistan’s selective outrage
According to sources close to the family, the interview of Noreen Niazi that forms the basis of the enquiry has never gone on-air. Only a short, clipped portion of the un-aired interview was cut out of context and circulated on social media platforms to make it viral and to bring her into the clutches of NCCIA.
The NCCIA notice, as reported in the media, had accused her of having “disseminated false, offensive and inflammatory social media content to defame state institutions and spread fake narratives”.
In her reply, a copy of which is available, Noreen Niazi has firmly denied the allegations.
“It is submitted that despite the unlawful confinement and state persecution of my only brother Mr. Imran Khan and my only son Barrister Hassaan Khan Niazi, it remains unfathomable to me that I would defame any State institution. I take such an aspersion cast upon me in this regard extremely seriously and firmly deny any such allegations,” she stated.
She further submitted that being served with a notice does not mean that her constitutional right to be dealt with in accordance with law stands waived, and that NCCIA’s power to seek attendance is neither unbridled nor immune from judicial review.
Raising legal objections, she said the purported notice does not disclose the identity of any complainant, except for the generic entry “State”. It does not specify the statutory provisions under which the enquiry is being conducted, nor does it specify what was allegedly disseminated or where, and is accordingly lacking in the particularised detail that a notice of this nature ought to contain.
“A notice of this nature, calling upon a citizen to appear without disclosing the basic particulars of the allegation, falls short of the standard required of a lawful exercise of investigative power. The purpose of a notice of this kind is to facilitate investigation, not to harass citizens,” the reply reads.
She also argued that a vague notice requiring personal appearance in another city without detailing any specific allegation against the person concerned amounts to a coercive exercise of the power to issue notice rather than a legitimate investigative step.
Seeks details, assures cooperation:
While assuring full cooperation within the scope of law, Noreen Niazi has requested the NCCIA to:
(a) share the complaint, or at minimum the specific allegations forming the basis of Enquiry No. RE-2031/2026;
(b) specify the statutory provisions under which the enquiry is being conducted; and
(c) provide reasons as to why her personal appearance is required in another city.
“Being a law-abiding citizen, I am willing to extend full cooperation to NCCIA in a lawful manner and within the parameters laid down by the Courts,” she said.
She requested the agency to acknowledge receipt of her reply, adding that the reply is without prejudice to her rights enshrined under the Constitution of Pakistan and settled law relating to such notices.
A copy of the reply has also been sent to the Deputy Director, NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, Islamabad.
