Three Quetta Journalists Booked Under PECA as Homes Raided: What Happened and Why It Matters

Three journalists in Quetta have been booked under Pakistan’s cybercrime law, and their homes have reportedly been raided, in a case that has set off a fresh debate about press freedom in Balochistan. The three — Agha Obaid, Maqbool Jafar and Sana Achakzai — have not been arrested, but journalist groups say the action sends a chilling message to reporters in the province.

The cases were registered by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), the law Pakistan uses to police online content. A spokesperson for the Balochistan government has confirmed the cases and says they were filed because the journalists spread fake news. The journalists say they were punished for doing their jobs.

This article explains what happened, what each side says, what PECA is, and why the case matters beyond Quetta.

What happened in Quetta

On 5 November, it was reported that the NCCIA had registered cases under PECA against three Quetta-based journalists: Agha Obaid, Maqbool Jafar and Sana Achakzai. Their homes were reportedly raided, and the action caused concern in journalist circles. According to reports, none of the three journalists has been arrested.

Agha Obaid says he was not served any notice before the case (known as a First Information Report, or FIR) was registered against him. He says the action followed a short video blog, or vlog, he published about speculation circulating in Quetta about the Chief Minister’s House.

“On October 29 and 30, various speculations were circulating in the city. After that, eight to nine sources gave me different pieces of information,” Agha Obaid said. “On October 31, I made a four-minute vlog. About half an hour later, the NCCIA registered an FIR against me under PECA, and the next day my house was raided.”

In other words, according to the journalist, less than an hour passed between his video going online and the case being registered. His home was then raided the following day.

What the journalists say

Maqbool Jafar, who is associated with Balochistan Image News, called the action vindictive and criticised both the government and the NCCIA. He alleged that some officials posted at the NCCIA previously served in the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and have faced serious allegations in the past, including violations of the Constitution and the law. He also claimed that some of the agency’s officers enjoy the patronage of government figures.

His strongest complaint was about the way the action was carried out. “If a journalist has made a mistake, a notice should be issued to them under the legal procedure,” Maqbool Jafar said. “But we are being treated as if we are not journalists but terrorists.”

He alleged that homes are raided in the dead of night, journalists are beaten, women in the houses are harassed, and in some operations no women police officers are even present. These are his allegations, and they have not been independently verified.

The journalists’ union in the province has stepped in, but cautiously. Manzoor Baloch, president of the Balochistan Union of Journalists, said the union began an inquiry under its established procedure as soon as it learned of the incident, and is contacting the named journalists to find out the facts.

“When journalists report a story, they should have the evidence and relevant information to back it up, which can also be presented in court,” Manzoor Baloch said. “If the named journalists stand by their report and their position, the union will stand with them and, if necessary, will support them all the way to the NCCIA. However, if some other matter emerges in the investigation, it will be dealt with accordingly.”

A senior lawyer has also weighed in. Abdul Hakeem Zareen, a senior lawyer at the Balochistan High Court, expressed concern over the incident and said that “a constitutional petition can be filed against the concerned authorities over this incident.”

What the government says

The Balochistan government does not deny that the cases were registered. Shahid Rind, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Balochistan, confirmed that the cases against the three individuals were registered through the NCCIA.

According to him, the spread of fake news has become a major challenge for the government. “The government has the right to take legal action against fake news,” Shahid Rind said. “Legal action is necessary to curb fake news.”

The NCCIA was approached for comment on these cases, but no response was received.

So the two sides disagree on a basic question: was this a fair legal response to false reporting, or was it punishment for journalism the government did not like? The government says the cases are about fake news. The journalists say they reported on the basis of sources and were given no chance to respond before cases were filed and homes were raided.

What is PECA?

To understand this case, it helps to know what PECA is.

PECA stands for the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, a law passed in 2016. It deals with crimes committed online — hacking, online fraud, harassment, and the spread of false information, among other things. One of its most-used sections in cases against journalists is Section 26-A, which deals with punishment for false and fake information.

The law is enforced by the NCCIA, the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency, the federal agency that handles cybercrime cases in Pakistan.

PECA has been controversial since it was passed. Supporters say it is needed to control misinformation, online harassment and material that can cause harm. Critics — including journalist groups, lawyers and human rights organisations — say its broad wording allows it to be used against reporters, commentators and ordinary citizens for things they post online.

In practice, a case under PECA can begin with a complaint, followed by an inquiry, an FIR, and then possible arrest and prosecution. Journalists say the process itself becomes the punishment: even when a case ends in bail or is dropped, the person named in it has already faced raids, court appearances and the fear of arrest.

A wider pattern, not a one-off case

The Quetta cases have not come out of nowhere. They fit into a wider pattern that press freedom groups have been documenting.

According to the 2026 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Pakistan ranks 153rd out of 180 countries. The ranking measures how free journalists are to work without pressure, threats or legal action.

A recent report by Freedom Network, a Pakistani media watchdog, documented 97 violations against journalists and media workers between October 2025 and August 2026. That was fewer than the 142 recorded in the previous cycle, but the report said fewer violations did not mean greater safety.

The 97 cases included one work-related killing, three attempted assassinations, 18 threats of murder or harm, 13 legal actions and 32 threats of legal action, as well as 11 assaults. Punjab reported the most cases, with 49, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad and Balochistan. Digital and independent journalists were targeted most often, the report found.

The report, titled “From Violence to Lawfare: Process as Punishment for Journalists”, described the NCCIA’s use of PECA against journalists as “central to this legal siege” of online journalism in Pakistan. It said PECA-related cases against journalists follow a recurring pattern: a complaint, a notice or inquiry, an appearance before the agency, an FIR, arrest, bail, and eventual relief, apology, or a prosecution that stays unresolved.

Just this week, journalists across Balochistan observed a “Black Day” on Tuesday to mark the November 3, 2007 emergency and to protest against the dismissal of media workers, the shutdown of media offices in the province, and the non-payment and delayed payment of salaries. The protest was held at the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). Journalists wore black armbands, hoisted black flags at press clubs and held protests to highlight the challenges faced by the media industry.

There have also been earlier instances of the NCCIA issuing notices to journalists, and human rights activists and journalist circles have been expressing concern over growing restrictions on freedom of expression in Pakistan.

What happens next

Several things will decide how this case develops.

First, the Balochistan Union of Journalists is carrying out its own inquiry. Its president has said the union will stand by the journalists if they stand by their reporting, and support them before the NCCIA if needed. The union’s findings could shape how other journalist groups respond.

Second, a constitutional petition may be filed against the authorities, as suggested by senior lawyer Abdul Hakeem Zareen. If a petition is filed in the Balochistan High Court, a judge would examine whether the cases and raids followed the law.

Third, the NCCIA has not yet commented. Whether it explains its reasons — and whether the cases move towards arrest, bail or prosecution — will matter a great deal for the three journalists.

Fourth, the wider debate about PECA will continue. Each case like this one adds to the argument made by journalist groups that the law is being used to pressure reporters, and to the government’s argument that it is a necessary tool against fake news.

Why this matters

It is easy to see a case involving three journalists in one city as a small, local story. But it matters for a simple reason: when journalists are afraid to report, the public hears less.

Balochistan is already one of the hardest places in Pakistan to report from. It is a large province with security problems, limited media offices and a history of pressure on reporters. When cases are filed quickly, homes are raided and no notice is served first, other journalists notice — and some will choose not to report on sensitive subjects at all.

That is what press freedom groups call a chilling effect. It does not require anyone to be jailed. The process itself — a case, a raid, a court appearance — is enough to make others think twice.

At the same time, fake news is a real problem. False reports can damage reputations, spread panic and mislead the public. The government is right that there should be a legal way to deal with genuinely false reporting. The question at the heart of this case is whether the law is being used fairly, with proper notice and due process, or whether it is being used to silence reporting the government dislikes.

The three journalists say they reported on the basis of sources and were given no chance to answer before cases were filed. The government says the cases are about fake news and that legal action is necessary. Until the facts are tested — in the union’s inquiry, in court if a petition is filed, or in the NCCIA’s own process — that question stays open.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the three journalists?

Agha Obaid, Maqbool Jafar and Sana Achakzai, all based in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan. Maqbool Jafar is associated with Balochistan Image News.

What law were they booked under?

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016. The cases were registered by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

Have any of them been arrested?

No. According to reports, none of the three journalists has been arrested. Their homes were reportedly raided.

What does the government say?

Shahid Rind, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Balochistan, confirmed the cases and said they were registered because of the spread of fake news. He said the government has the right to take legal action against fake news.

What is Pakistan’s ranking on press freedom?

Pakistan ranks 153rd out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

What is PECA Section 26-A?

It is the section of PECA that deals with punishment for false and fake information, and it is one of the sections most often used in cases against journalists.

Conclusion

Three journalists in Quetta are now facing cases under Pakistan’s cybercrime law, and their homes have reportedly been raided. The journalists say they were targeted for a vlog based on sources, and that they were given no notice before the case was filed. The government says the cases are about fake news and that legal action is necessary.

What happens next — the union’s inquiry, a possible court petition, and the NCCIA’s next steps — will show whether this case ends quickly or becomes another long-running example of the pressure journalists in Pakistan say they face. For now, it is another reminder of how difficult reporting has become in Balochistan, and of why the debate over PECA is not going away.

Sources

https://voicepk.net/2026/11/three-quetta-journalists-homes-raided-booked-under-peca/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXbx_gPwnw8
https://ianslive.in/pakistan-journalists-observe-black-day-in-balochistan-highlight-challenges-faced-by-media-industry–20261104160723

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.