ISLAMABAD:
A mega corruption scandal has hit the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Rawalpindi-Islamabad hard, as two additional directors, along with several other officials, are accused of accepting substantial monthly bribes in exchange for protection and cover for allegedly illegal activities carried out in 15 call centers run by foreign nationals in a private housing society.
According to official sources, the Anti-Corruption Circle of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Islamabad, has filed cases against a total of 10 officials, including two additional directors, several Chinese nationals, one of whom is married to a Pakistani woman, and a number of individuals. A major operation was also launched to apprehend the suspects.
The First Information Report (FIR), filed on behalf of the State in Investigation No. 326/2025, reveals that during the investigation, 15 call centers run by Chinese and other foreign nationals were identified at a private housing society in Rawalpindi.
These centers allegedly defrauded members of the public through various online scams. Despite clear evidence of these illegal operations, NCCIA agents reportedly extended protection to the perpetrators in exchange for bribes amounting to around Rs15 million per month.
The FIR further alleges that over time, former and serving civil servants collectively received around PKR 250 million in illicit payments. After the establishment of the NCCIA as an independent body separate from the FIA, the newly appointed leaders allegedly continued their corrupt practices, collecting an additional PKR 50 million in bribes. The payments were allegedly facilitated by two middlemen, identified as Hassan Ameer and Tahir Mohiuddin.
Following the arrest of a Chinese national, Guo Kashian alias Kelvin, and 14 other foreign suspects, an additional Rs 21 million was allegedly collected in bribes as part of a deal with Kelvin’s Pakistani wife. Additionally, Sub-Inspector Sarim Ali, stationed at NCCIA Rawalpindi, was accused of physically assaulting the Chinese suspect and sending violent videos of the incident to his wife via WhatsApp.
According to the FIR, the bribes were received in three installments and digital evidence, including videos, recordings of chats and other materials, was recovered during the investigation. Accordingly, the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle, Islamabad, registered a case under sections 109, 161, 386 and 420 of the Pakistan Penal Code, as well as section 5(2)47 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.
Those named in the case include NCCIA additional directors Shehzad Haider and Aamir Nazir; deputy directors Haider Abbas, Nadeem Abbas (acting) and Suleman Awan; as well as current NCCIA Sub-Inspector and former FIA Cyber Crime Cell Sub-Inspector Mian Irfan. Other sub-inspectors Muhammad Bilal, Sarim Ali, Usman Basharat and Zaheer Abbas have also been named in the case.
The investigation is being led by Deputy Superintendent Muhammad Safeer Ahmad, Inspector Muhammad Waheed Khan and Sub-Inspector Shams Gondal, who have officially opened their investigation. Authorities confirmed that searches were currently underway to arrest the accused.
