NCCIA registers case against PTI’s Junaid Akbar over alleged ‘hate speech’

ISLAMABAD: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has registered a case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Junaid Akbar over his alleged hate speech, incitement and threats to public and government property, according to the first information report (FIR).

The case was registered at the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad on Wednesday on behalf of the state, with PECA sections 9, 10 and 11 included in the FIR.

The FIR alleged that inflammatory material and threatening statements made by Junaid Akbar were circulated through various social media accounts.

It also cited a speech in which the PTI leader allegedly threatened damage to government and public property and attempted to create a situation in which there was a risk of deaths, according to the FIR.

The FIR specifically referred to Akbar’s remarks about turning Islamabad into “Somnath”, saying the statement was part of a speech circulated on social media.

‘Somnath’ remarks

Akbar, who is PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president, made the remarks while addressing a party gathering in Peshawar ahead of PTI’s planned September 27 protest in Islamabad.

According to reports, he warned the government against using force against protesters and said the party would approach Islamabad through multiple routes, including the motorway and Grand Trunk Road, while some workers would come through the Margalla Hills and from Dera Ismail Khan.

He also referred to previous protests and said PTI workers would not simply return after collecting bodies if force was used against them.

According to media reports, Akbar allegedly said, “We will turn Islamabad into Somnath” while addressing a gathering in Peshawar.

The remarks subsequently triggered a political and legal controversy.

Former prime minister and Awam Pakistan Party leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also criticised Akbar’s remarks, saying the registration of the NCCIA case sent a clear message about the rule of law and state authority.

In a post on X, Abbasi said threats to “attack” Islamabad, turn it into “Somnath” and cause deaths under the guise of peaceful protest amounted to incitement and anarchy rather than political activity. He alleged that PTI’s narrative was aimed at confrontation with the state and institutions, and said law-enforcement agencies would not allow any political party to engage in violence, arson, propaganda or attacks on security forces.

پی ٹی آئی خیبر پختونخوا کے صدر جنید اکبر کے خلاف این سی سی آئی اے (NCCIA) میں ایف آئی آر کا اندراج قانون کی بالادستی اور ریاستی عملداری کا واضح پیغام ہے۔ پُر امن احتجاج کے نام پر دارالحکومت اسلام آباد پر حملے کرنے، اسے 'سومنات' بنانے اور لاشیں گرانے کی کھلی دھمکیاں دینا کوئی… pic.twitter.com/QRbXzzM76c

— Shahid Khaqan Abbasi ( Fan ) (@Khaqanabbasifan) September 23, 2026

Akbar says remarks were ‘given a wrong spin’

Akbar later defended his statement, saying his reference to Somnath was about PTI repeatedly returning to Islamabad and that his remarks had been given a “wrong spin”.

He said the speech being circulated was four days old and maintained that he took responsibility for every word he had said.

He explained that his reference was to PTI coming to Islamabad repeatedly, even if it had to return 15 or 17 times.

Contempt petition in IHC

The controversy had also reached the Islamabad High Court, where an Islamabad-based trader filed a contempt petition against Akbar over the remarks.

According to reports, the petitioner alleged that Akbar’s comments amounted to incitement to march towards the capital and violated directions contained in the IHC’s September 14 judgment concerning protests and obstruction of public roads and facilities.