ISLAMABAD: A major corruption scandal has rocked Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), as three senior officials resigned amid allegations of bribery, abuse of authority, and torturing a YouTuber. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is still investigating, but progress appears slow.
The Interior Ministry accepted the resignations of Deputy Director Sarfaraz Chaudhry and Assistant Directors Muhammad Usman and Shoaib Riaz. Assistant Director Asma Majeed has also stepped down. The officials’ employment was officially terminated on November 20, according to NCCIA statements.
This comes weeks after investigators uncovered a widespread corruption network within NCCIA in October. Officials allegedly accepted monthly bribes from call centers, aggregator companies, and individuals involved in online fraud. Nine NCCIA officials were booked in Lahore and another twelve in Islamabad for taking large sums of money from suspects while misusing their authority to protect illegal operations.
The scandal also includes allegations of links to a so-called “blasphemy gang” accused of framing individuals, raising the gravity of the case. Despite the severity, the FIA has been criticized for slow progress. Sources say the nine jailed officials have not yet been thoroughly interrogated, and the challan has not been submitted to court.
The scandal gained national attention when YouTuber Saad ur Rehman, known as Ducky Bhai, claimed he was tortured by Deputy Director Sarfaraz Chaudhry while in custody. Meanwhile, Aroob Jatoi accused the officials of embezzling over 100 million rupees in local and foreign currency.
Authorities fear that as many as 20 NCCIA officials may eventually face dismissal as investigations continue. The case has shaken public confidence in the agency, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and reform within Pakistan’s anti-cybercrime institutions.
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