ISLAMABAD:
A mega corruption scandal has hit the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Rawalpindi-Islamabad, hard as two more directors, along with several other officials, are accused of receiving substantial monthly bribes in return for providing protection and cover to allegedly illegal activities carried out at 15 call centers run by foreign nationals.
According to official sources, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Anti-Corruption Circle, Islamabad, has registered a case 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 private individuals. A large-scale operation has also been launched to apprehend the suspects.
The First Information Report (FIR), filed on behalf of the state under investigation No. 326/2025, reveals that during the course of the investigation, 15 call centers managed by Chinese and other foreign nationals in a private housing company in Rawalpindi were identified.
These centers were allegedly involved in defrauding members of the public through various online scams. Despite clear evidence of these illegal operations, NCCIA officers allegedly extended protection to the perpetrators in return for bribes of around Rs 15 million per month.
The FIR further alleges that over time, both former and serving officials collectively received about PKR 250 million in illegal payments. After the NCCIA was established as an independent body separate from the FIA, newly appointed officers reportedly continued the corrupt practices and collected an additional PKR 50 million in bribes. The payments were allegedly facilitated through 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, it is alleged that a further Rs21m was taken in bribes through a deal struck with Kelvin’s Pakistani wife. Also, Sub-Inspector Sarim Ali, posted at NCCIA Rawalpindi, has been accused of physically assaulting the Chinese suspect and sending violent videos of the incident to his wife via WhatsApp.
According to the FIR, the bribe was received in three installments and digital evidence including videos, chat records and other material have been recovered during the investigation. As a result, the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle, Islamabad has registered a case under Sections 109, 161, 386 and 420 of the Pakistan Penal Code along with 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 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 nominated in the case.
The investigation is being led by Assistant Director Muhammad Safeer Ahmad, Inspector Muhammad Waheed Khan and Sub-Inspector Shams Gondal, who have formally begun their investigations. Officials confirmed that raids are currently underway to arrest the accused persons.
