RAWALPINDI:
The Federal Investigation Agency’s Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad has arrested National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Deputy Director Salman Awan Alvi and Sub-Inspector Sarim Ali in the Chinese call center mega-corruption scandal. The main suspects were remanded out of court after their pre-arrest bail was cancelled. Meanwhile, the bail of their alleged frontman, Mohiuddin, was also rejected due to his absence.
According to details, FIA Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad arrested Deputy Director of Anti-Blasphemy Unit Salman Awan and Sub-Inspector Sarim Ali immediately after the cancellation of their bail. The third accused, Tahir Mohiuddin, failed to appear before the Special Central Magistrate, leading to the dismissal of his pre-arrest bail.
It may be recalled that shocking revelations had emerged in the Chinese call center corruption scandal. The FIA had already filed a case against two more directors, several other officials, employees and a Chinese national. The investigation revealed that 15 illegal call centers in Rawalpindi were paying Rs15 million monthly in bribes. Additional director Shehzad Haider’s team allegedly collected this money through their frontman, Hassan Ameer. A total of Rs 120 million was received between September 2024 and April 2025. Sub-inspector Bilal allegedly set a new call center’s monthly payment at Rs 800,000.
Similarly, a call center in Islamabad’s F-11 sector was raided, which later turned into a negotiated deal. SHO Mian Irfan reportedly finalized this deal at Rs40 million. In May 2025, when Aamir Nazir took charge of the Rawalpindi office, Deputy Director Nadeem Khan and Sub Inspector Sarim Ali were posted with him. Deputy Director of the Anti-Blasphemy Unit, Salman Awan, also joined the team. This group allegedly continued to collect Rs15 million monthly in bribes.
Sub-inspector Sarim appointed his clerk, Mohiuddin, as his front man. In another raid in Rawalpindi, 14 Chinese nationals were arrested. Through his front man, Sarim contacted the wife of a Chinese national named Kelvin. She reportedly paid Rs8 million for her husband’s release, while Rs12 million was reportedly taken to release the remaining 13 Chinese nationals. Sarim is also accused of torturing a woman’s husband named Areeba and sending her the video. The accused allegedly demanded another Rs1 million to complete legal formalities. A total of Rs21 million collected from this raid was distributed among the team members.
According to the investigation report, Sarim Ali received Rs 1.7 million. Usman Basharat received Rs1.4 million; and Zaheer Abbas got Rs1 million. Deputy Director Nadeem reportedly received Rs9.5 million from Usman Basharat’s office, while Additional Director Aamir Nazir allegedly received Rs7 million. Nadeem kept Rs2.7 million for himself.
