PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar's WhatsApp account hacked
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar. Photo: File
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Tuesday said his WhatsApp account had been hacked, warning the public to ignore any financial requests made from it.
In a statement posted on X, Gohar said his WhatsApp number was hacked this morning at around 11:00 am, adding that the account had since been deleted from his phone.
Urgent - my WhatsApp number was hacked this morning sometime about 11am. The WhatsApp now stand deleted from my cell; some requests for money transfers have been made - please ignore all such requests while I seek recourse to the concerned authorities. Thanks
He said that hackers were sending messages requesting money and urged people to disregard any such financial demands, saying that he had approached the relevant authorities regarding the matter.
Later, speaking to the media, he said, “I was informed that my WhatsApp was hacked this morning. I am concerned about a possible information leak. I have reported the matter to the FIA and also to Ufone, and I have sent an email as advised by the FIA Cyber Wing. I have also contacted WhatsApp via email".
He further added, "The account is still showing as active, and I do not know why this has happened, as there was nothing unusual on my phone. I am part of many groups, so naturally, I am concerned about my data".
"If a WhatsApp account is hacked, there should be an immediate solution — there should be an option to report or block it instantly with a single button”, he says.
Read More: Lawmakers sound alarm on cybercrimes in National Assembly session
Earlier in January, Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team had issued a nationwide advisory warning of a sharp rise in WhatsApp account hijacking incidents, saying the attacks were active, widespread and targeting users across all demographics.
Later, the matter was discussed in the National Assembly as members expressed serious concern over the rising incidents of digital and cyber scams across the country, with lawmakers from all party lines calling for urgent policy formulation to curb such crimes.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq disclosed that his voice had been impersonated to fraudulently seek money from citizens, prompting assurances from the government that action and legislation were underway to counter organised digital crime.