The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has restrained the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) from hindering the official duties of contract officers who have approached the court seeking regularisation of their services.

The court also maintained its interim order restraining the NCCIA from initiating any disciplinary action against the petitioners and granted the agency a final opportunity to submit a detailed, paragraph-wise reply by July 30.

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan heard the petition filed by NCCIA contract employees seeking regularisation of their services. Advocates Haroon Rashid, Manzoor Ahmed Jajja and others appeared on behalf of the petitioners.

During the hearing, the NCCIA sought further time to file its response.

Counsel for the petitioners opposed the request, arguing that since the first hearing on February 13, the NCCIA had been granted several opportunities to submit a reply but had sought adjournments at every hearing.

The court granted the NCCIA a final opportunity to file a detailed reply before the next hearing.

It directed that if the NCCIA failed to submit a reply, the case would be decided based on the available record.