Shafaqna Pakistan: The lawyer for Noreen Niazi, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, said on Monday that an initial written response had been submitted to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) after it issued her a notice over a controversial interview.
The NCCIA had summoned Noreen on Saturday for questioning following an interview in which she alleged that Operation Marka-e-Haq was carried out in collaboration between the Pakistan armed forces and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to reporters after appearing before the agency, her lawyer Faisal Malik said Noreen became aware of the notice through social media on Monday morning, after which her legal team submitted a preliminary written reply.
Malik said the defence had requested a copy of any complaint filed against his client and asked the NCCIA to clarify the legal provisions under which the notice had been issued.
He said the NCCIA had directed Noreen to appear before the agency in person on Tuesday. However, the legal team had sought four weeks to submit a detailed response to the notice.
Quoting his client, Malik said Noreen maintained that “as a Pakistani, she respects all state institutions” and “could never do anything that would bring disrepute to Pakistan.”
Malik added that Noreen Niazi would not be able to appear before the NCCIA on Tuesday.
According to a notice issued by the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre on Saturday, Noreen had been directed to appear before the agency on Monday to record her statement in connection with the inquiry.
The notice, issued under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, stated that the NCCIA was conducting proceedings in the matter.
The notice directed her to appear in person at the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad to record her statement. It warned that non-compliance would mean “that you have nothing to present or state in your defence” and would be punishable under Section 174 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860.
The notice was issued after Noreen made remarks regarding Marka-e-Haq and the Pakistan Army during an interview on a YouTube channel.
In the interview, Noreen alleged that Marka-e-Haq was a collaboration between the Pakistan armed forces and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She further claimed that India refrained from attacking Pakistan at Israel’s request because Pakistan was moving towards recognising Israel.
“Modi could have fixed them in two minutes if he had wanted to. Why did Modi stop? What was he afraid of? India is such a large country. Look at that country and then look at yourselves,” she said.
She also alleged that Israel was “behind” the developments and claimed that Pakistan was being prepared to join countries that had established diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
Source: Express Tribune
