Over a dozen Pakistani senators, MNAs fall victim to cyber fraud, losing millions, Senate panel told

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior was informed on Tuesday that more than a dozen senators and members of the National Assembly have fallen victim to cyber fraud, online harassment and identity theft. Officials from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency told the committee that public representatives were increasingly being targeted by organised online scams, with several cases involving financial losses and misuse of personal identities. 

The committee was briefed that Senator Falak Naz Chitrali was defrauded of Rs485,000 after receiving a call from an individual impersonating the chief executive officer of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital. NCCIA officials said the suspects in the case had been arrested and the amount recovered.

The NCCIA informed the parliamentary panel that some suspects have been arrested, while investigations in other cases are continuing. 

In another case, Senator Bilal Ahmed Mandokhail was deceived by scammers posing as a provincial governor, while Rs490,000 was fraudulently obtained from Sahibzada Hamid Raza. Senator Faisal Rehman, MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz and Naz Baloch were reported to have faced online harassment and defamation.

The committee was also told that a fake social media profile was created using the photograph of Deputy Chairman Senate Syedaal Khan, while Senator Palwasha was misled through a fraudulent online investment scheme.

According to NCCIA, 11 cases involving parliamentarians were formally reported. Investigations are still under way in three cases, while suspects have been arrested and stolen funds recovered in six cases.

Briefing the panel, DIG Irfanullah of the NCCIA said the agency had received around 157,000 complaints nationwide. Of these, 6,029 were converted into registered cases, while 65,431 complaints were taken up as inquiries.

Members of the committee observed that the volume of complaints pointed to widespread cyber fraud affecting the general public as well. NCCIA officials acknowledged operational challenges, noting that the agency currently has only 523 personnel across the country.

Responding to concerns, the minister of state for interior said the government was working to strengthen the NCCIA through new recruitment, specialised training and the establishment of 64 cyber crime police stations nationwide. He added that progress was being made despite limited resources.

The minister also highlighted the misuse of rented bank accounts as a key factor enabling cyber fraud, saying individuals allow their accounts to be used in return for small commissions. He said the government had approached the State Bank of Pakistan to tighten banking security measures to curb such practices.