RAWALPINDI:
The Anti-Corruption Circle of the Federal Investigation Agency Islamabad has arrested Deputy Director of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Salman Awan Alvi and Sub-Inspector Sarim Ali in connection with the Chinese call center mega-corruption scandal. The main suspects were remanded in custody out of court after their pre-arrest bail was revoked. Meanwhile, the bail of their alleged leader Mohiuddin was also rejected due to his absence.
According to details, the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad arrested the deputy director of the anti-blasphemy unit, Salman Awan, and sub-inspector Sarim Ali immediately after their bail was canceled. The third accused, Tahir Mohiuddin, failed to appear before the Special Central Magistrate, leading to the rejection of his pre-arrest bail.
Recall that shocking revelations had surfaced in the Chinese call center corruption scandal. The FIA had already filed a complaint against two other directors, several other managers, staff members and a Chinese national. The investigation revealed that 15 illegal call centers in Rawalpindi paid Rs 15 million per month in bribes. Additional director Shehzad Haider’s team is said to have collected this money through its leader Hassan Ameer. A total of Rs 120 million was received between September 2024 and April 2025. Sub-inspector Bilal reportedly pegged the monthly payment for a new call center at Rs 800,000.
Similarly, a raid was carried out at a call center in Islamabad’s F-11 sector, which later turned into a negotiated settlement. SHO Mian Irfan reportedly finalized this deal for Rs 40 million. In May 2025, when Aamir Nazir took charge of the Rawalpindi office, Deputy Director Nadeem Khan and Sub-Inspector Sarim Ali were posted alongside him. The deputy director of the anti-blasphemy unit, Salman Awan, has also joined the team. This group allegedly continued to collect 15 million rupees per month in bribes.
Sub-Inspector Sarim appointed his clerk, Mohiuddin, as his leader. In another raid in Rawalpindi, 14 Chinese nationals were arrested. Sarim, through his leader, contacted the wife of a Chinese citizen named Kelvin. She reportedly paid 8 million rupees for the release of her husband, while 12 million rupees was taken for the release of the remaining 13 Chinese nationals. Sarim is also accused of torturing the husband of a woman named Areeba and sending him the video. The accused allegedly demanded an additional Rs 1 million to complete the legal formalities. A total of Rs21 million collected during this raid was distributed among the team members.
According to the investigation file, Sarim Ali received Rs 1.7 million; Usman Basharat received 1.4 million rupees; and Zaheer Abbas received 1 million rupees. Deputy director Nadeem reportedly received Rs 9.5 million from Usman Basharat’s office, while additional director Aamir Nazir received Rs 7 million. Nadeem kept Rs 2.7 million for himself.
