Corruption has infiltrated Pakistan’s cyber defenses, with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) detaining three National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) officers from Gujranwala and their aides on charges of bribery, extortion, and official misconduct.
The probe, triggered by intel reports and Muzammil Iqbal’s complaint from Garden Town, Gujranwala, revealed a lucrative racket. Officers reportedly freed cyber fraud suspects after multimillion-rupee payoffs, per Express Tribune insights.
Iqbal described a home invasion on February 2 by imposters claiming FIA authority. Family held at gunpoint, phones snatched, men assaulted and hooded before imprisonment in a room. Loot included 15 mobiles, laptop, vehicle, cash, and cards.
Transported to FIA Cyber Crime offices, victims faced intense questioning on digital ventures and crypto. Ransoms poured in via cash, coins, and banks, with assurances of legal immunity—and threats of more demands. Some property returned, but not all.
Victim Salman Raza reported family abduction and 5 crore demand. Iqbal’s haggling, allegedly with FIA help, settled at 3 crore: 30 lakh cash, 15 lakh electronic, ending the nightmare.
This brazen abuse erodes faith in Pakistan’s anti-cybercrime apparatus. FIA’s intervention is commendable, yet it underscores urgent needs for oversight, training, and anti-corruption measures to safeguard citizens from rogue elements within.