Mohammad Rizwan has written to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), urging it to comply with the Lahore High Court's order in its latest ruling in the case. The letter is understood to have stated that Rizwan remained in the dark concerning the nature of the investigation, and requested the return of his mobile phone, which remains with the NCCIA. The phone was taken from Rizwan on August 31 in England, the day after Pakistan's defeat at Lord's, which he claimed he had been told would be returned in three hours.
Rizwan's official correspondence to the NCCIA comes nearly two weeks after the Lahore High Court dismissed Rizwan's petition arguing the NCCIA did not have jurisdiction over the matter. In that ruling, the Lahore High Court ordered Rizwan to cooperate with the agency's proceedings, but instructed the agency not to subject Rizwan to "harassment or unnecessary inconvenience". It also allowed Rizwan to approach a court with the relevant jurisdiction to recover items - primarily his mobile phone - which had not yet been returned to him.
Rizwan's letter to the NCCI has pointed out that the agency has not made any contact with him to demonstrate appropriate compliance with the court's instructions. In particular, it requested the agency to identify in writing the specific incident that was the subject of their inquiry and to inform him when he was required to present himself at the NCCIA.
He also pointed out that he had handed over access to his phone in the UK, despite having no legal obligation to consent to that request, with the understanding it would be returned to him in three hours. Four weeks later, he has pointed out, the phone, which he provided the NCCIA the password to, remains with the agency. According to the letter, the NCCIA has not contacted Rizwan to arrange the return of his phone. The letter contested that his voluntary handing over of his phone and subsequent conduct demonstrated he was cooperating with the inquiry, but wanted the agency to act in kind, returning his phone to him and explaining the nature of the investigation.
The letter is the latest development in the investigation into Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq by the NCCIA, in the fallout following Pakistan's defeat in the second Test, following which they were among players recalled to Pakistan immediately. While Imam opted to fill out the agency's questionnaire, Rizwan chose to enlist legal counsel and contest the agency's jurisdiction. While that attempt to have the case dismissed was unsuccessful, Rizwan has retained legal counsel and asked the NCCIA to contact him in writing with regards to any subject relevant to the case.