LHC directs NCCIA not to harass Mohammad Rizwan

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has rejected cricketer Mohammad Rizwan’s petition challenging an inquiry by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and directed the agency not to harass him.

LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum issued the written order on Rizwan’s petition. According to the order, the NCCIA is conducting an inquiry against Rizwan in connection with alleged online betting and gambling.

The government lawyer stated that the matter fell within the scope of Section 14 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, relating to unlawful financial gain. At this stage, the court held that it was appropriate to allow the relevant agency to continue its inquiry into the allegations.

The order said the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code did not override or terminate proceedings under other applicable laws. Criminal proceedings could not be avoided merely by relying on the ICC’s regulations, it added.

The court further observed that the ICC’s own disciplinary framework required cooperation with relevant criminal or regulatory authorities and that the existence of the ICC’s disciplinary mechanism did not prevent a state-authorised agency from conducting a lawful inquiry.

The court held that a call-up notice, by itself, did not amount to an allegation of a crime against an individual. It found that the NCCIA inquiry was neither beyond its jurisdiction nor motivated by mala fide intentions.

According to the order, the purpose of the inquiry was to detect and eliminate corruption in sports, and the court could not intervene at this preliminary stage before completion of the inquiry and determination of whether further action was required.

The court said Rizwan could seek an appropriate legal remedy if he had any grievance regarding the final outcome of the inquiry. It also observed that he could approach the relevant court for the return of any items seized or taken into possession from him.

The LHC directed Rizwan to join and cooperate with the NCCIA inquiry. At the same time, it directed the agency not to harass him or cause him unnecessary inconvenience and to conduct the inquiry strictly in accordance with law.