Bribery scam jolts NCCIA

A mega corruption scandal has hit the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Rawalpindi-Islamabad, hard, as two Additional Directors, along with several other officials, stand accused of accepting substantial monthly bribes in exchange for providing protection and cover to allegedly illegal activities being carried out at 15 call centres operated by foreign nationals within a private housing society.

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 Inquiry No 326/2025, reveals that during the course of investigation, 15 call centres managed by Chinese and other foreign nationals were identified within a private housing society in Rawalpindi.

These centres were allegedly engaged in defrauding members of the public through various online scams. Despite clear evidence of these unlawful operations, officers of the NCCIA allegedly extended protection to the perpetrators in return for bribes amounting to around Rs15 million per month.

The FIR further alleges that, over time, both former and serving officials collectively received approximately PKR 250 million in illicit payments. After the NCCIA was established as an independent body separate from the FIA, newly appointed officers reportedly continued the corrupt practices, collecting an additional PKR 50 million in bribes. The payments were allegedly facilitated through two intermediaries, 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. Moreover, Sub-Inspector Sarim Ali, posted at NCCIA Rawalpindi, has been accused of subjecting the Chinese suspect to physical assault and sending violent videos of the incident to his wife via WhatsApp.

According to the FIR, the bribes were received in three instalments, and digital evidence—including videos, chat records, and other material—has 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 commenced their inquiries. Officials confirmed that raids are currently underway to arrest the accused individuals.