Members of the Senate Committee on Interior have raised alarm over the performance of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Authority (NCCIA) after several legislators revealed they had been defrauded by online scammers who stole millions of rupees through sophisticated digital schemes.
According to media reports, the committee, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman, met on Thursday and expressed concern over the growing incidents of cyber fraud and the agency’s inability to act on complaints. Lawmakers said fraudsters had detailed personal data and used fake identities to deceive even parliamentarians.
Senators Saifullah Abro, Falak Naz Chitrali, Bilal Khan, and Dilawar Khan shared their experiences of being targeted by organised cybercrime networks. Senator Falak Naz Chitrali said scammers posing as social workers tricked her into transferring money by providing detailed personal information about her family. Despite repeated complaints to the NCCIA, she said, no progress had been made.
The director general of the NCCIA briefed the committee on the surge in cybercrimes, fake calls, and digital banking frauds. He acknowledged operational weaknesses and said the authority is undergoing restructuring, with recruitment of technical experts expected within three months and a complete overhaul in six months.
Senator Shahadat Awan pointed out that while First Information Reports (FIRs) are being registered, prosecution remains ineffective and many cases remain pending in courts. The DG assured lawmakers that pending cases would be prioritised.
During the session, the committee also discussed the issuance of official gratis machine-readable passports for parliamentary officeholders and deferred the Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety (Amendment) Bill 2025 at the request of Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri.
Separately, members reviewed the police’s failure to arrest the suspects involved in the killing of Senator Aslam Abro’s brother and nephew, calling for accountability and timely action.
