13 officials accused of extorting Rs120 million from illegal call centers over eight months.
Islamabad, November 10: A major corruption scandal has surfaced inside the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Rawalpindi, where 13 officers stand accused of running an organized bribery and extortion network targeting illegal call centers.
According to an ongoing Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) inquiry, the officers allegedly collected Rs120 million in bribes over eight months, revealing a pattern of extortion, abuse of power, and intimidation tactics.
Rs120 Million Extortion Trail
Initial findings suggest the network extorted an average of Rs15 million per month from at least 15 illegal call centers operating in Rawalpindi. Between September 2024 and April 2025, the accused allegedly amassed Rs120 million in illicit payments.
The operation was reportedly orchestrated under Additional Director Shahzad Haider, with funds routed through a frontman, Hassan Amir.
One sub-inspector, Bilal, is accused of demanding Rs800,000 per month from a newly established call center, while Station House Officer (SHO) Mian Irfan allegedly settled a Rs40 million deal after a raid in Islamabad’s Sector F-11.
Hierarchy and Alleged Roles
The bribery chain extended through multiple ranks:
- Amir Nazir was appointed head of the Rawalpindi NCCIA office in May 2025, assisted by Deputy Director Nadeem Khan and Sub-Inspector Sarim Ali.
- Deputy Director Salman Alvi later joined the group.
- Sub-Inspector Sarim allegedly used his secretary, Mohiuddin, as a frontman for payments.
During a raid on a Rawalpindi call center, officers arrested 14 Chinese nationals. Investigators found that one of them was married to a local woman, Areeba Rabab, who received a video from Sarim showing her husband being tortured accompanied by a Rs800,000 ransom demand.
Money Distribution and Payouts
According to FIA’s financial tracking, Rs12 million was taken for the release of the detained Chinese nationals, with another Rs1 million added for supposed legal formalities. The Rs21 million total was allegedly divided among the officers:
- Sarim Ali: Rs1.7 million
- Usman Basharat: Rs1.4 million
- Zaheer Abbas: Rs1 million
- Deputy Director Nadeem Khan: Rs9.5 million (of which Rs7 million was passed to Additional Director Amir Nazir)
FIA Action and Next Steps
The FIA has formed specialized teams to pursue the accused officers, aiming for swift arrests and accountability. Officials say the operation’s exposure underscores the need for internal reforms in Pakistan’s cyber-crime policing system.
Background
The NCCIA was established to counter cyber fraud and digital crimes. However, this case marks one of the largest internal corruption scandals in the agency’s short history.
The investigation follows multiple complaints from business owners alleging harassment and “protection money” demands in exchange for avoiding raids or criminal charges.