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The Federal Investigation Agency has recovered over Rs 42.548 million from officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency in Lahore, exposing deep-rooted corruption within the agency. The seizure comes after months of investigation into bribery and misuse of authority, raising serious questions about governance at Pakistan’s top cybercrime body.
The recovered funds came from eight individuals, including senior and mid-level officers. Additional Director Ch. Sarfaraz was found with Rs 11.295 million, Deputy Director Zawar Ahmed with Rs 9.99 million, and Assistant Director Sohaib Riaz with Rs 9 million. Other recoveries include Rs 5.015 million from Deputy Director Muhammad Usman, Rs 3.6 million from Assistant Director Mujtaba Zafar, Rs 1.948 million from Sub-Inspector Yasir Ramzan, Rs 700,000 from Sub-Inspector Ali Raza, and Rs 1 million from a private individual, Salman Aziz, identified as a frontman.
The operation links to FIR No. 36/2025, registered by the FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle in Lahore. The case focuses on alleged bribery in cybercrime investigations, including claims that a bribe was taken from Aroob Jatoi, the wife of YouTuber Saad ur Rehman, known as Ducky Bhai, to influence NCCIA Case No. 196/2025.
Investigators warn that these recoveries reveal only a small portion of what they describe as a larger, systemic corruption network inside NCCIA. Officials allegedly ran a monthly bribe system, receiving illegal payments from call centers, aggregate companies, and accused individuals. Portions of these payments were reportedly passed upward to senior officers to secure high-ranking posts.
In a separate case, FIR No. 97/2025, registered by FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad/Rawalpindi, officials allegedly extorted Rs 300 million from illegal call centers in Bahria Town. The money was reportedly meant to protect operations run by Chinese nationals. A Chinese citizen, Gua Kaxian, also known as Kelvin, is named as a proclaimed offender, adding an international dimension to the probe. Investigators have recovered only Rs 1.5 million so far, seized from Sub-Inspector Sarim Ali.
Several officials, including Ch. Sarfaraz, have been arrested. His post-arrest bail was denied. Investigators have sought physical remands, frozen bank accounts, traced properties, and sent mobile phones and digital material to the National Forensic Agency for forensic analysis. Steps are underway to declare absconding suspects as proclaimed offenders, allowing CNIC blocks and property seizures. Meanwhile, NCCIA has started departmental proceedings, and the FIA is preparing interim challans for court.
