FIA cybercrime wing rendered defunct

The federal government on Friday notified the establishment of the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for probing into online offences, with the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing now rendered “defunct”.

According to a notification issued by the information ministry, the NCCIA was formed under Section 51 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016.

It added that the FIA would now cease to perform its functions as the designated investigation agency to probe into online crimes under Peca.

The notification read that all personnel, cases, inquiries, investigations, assets, liabilities, rights, obligations, privileges and matters related to the “defunct” FIA Cybercrime Wing would now stand transferred to the NCCIA.

However, it continued that the existing personnel of the FIA Cybercrime Wing would continue to perform their duties for another year until the appointment of the NCCIA staff.

“The NCCIA shall consist of a director general, additional director general, directors, additional directors, deputy directors, assistant directors and such other officers,” it explained.

The new cybercrime agency will be headed by a director general chosen by the federal government to serve for a two-year term. However, the director general’s term may be extended based on their performance.

Read New cybercrime agency on the cards

The notification stated that the candidate for the post would need to have “not less than 15 years of experience” in the fields of computer science, digital forensics, cyber technology, law, public administration, information technology, telecommunication or related fields to enable them to deal with Peca offences.

It added that the NCCIA director general would exercise the powers of an inspector general of police while the agency’s affairs related to the federal government’s business would be allocated to the Interior Division.

The new agency will directly register all the cases related to cybercrime and have its own offices serving as police stations for the filing of complaints. The NCCIA will also be the designated agency in respect of international cooperation.

The federal government has taken this step because of the growing graph of online offences and “unsatisfactory” performance of the FIA Cybercrime Wing.

A day earlier, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said at a news conference that the government was forming a separate authority to “safeguard the digital rights of people” as well as “counter propaganda and rumours on social media”.

He called for a specific authority to address the issue of online harassment as currently there was no law to protect the digital rights of citizens.