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A recent session of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior revealed that several members of the parliament have been targeted by sophisticated digital fraud schemes, prompting serious concerns about the performance of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and overall cybersecurity preparedness in Pakistan.
According to committee members, the frauds involve criminals impersonating officials or trusted entities, armed with personal data of the victims. One senator, Falak Naz Chitrali, reported that she was deceived by scammers posing as social workers and was tricked into transferring funds after the fraudsters used detailed information about her family.
Another senator, Dilawar Khan, disclosed that approximately Rs 850,000 was removed from his bank account in a scam.
Committee’s Critique of NCCIA and Investigation Gaps
During the meeting chaired by Faisal Saleem Rehman, senators sharply criticised the NCCIA for its weak response to complaints and lack of timely prosecutions. According to reports, while FIRs are being registered, many cases remain inactive in courts.
The Director General of the NCCIA acknowledged operational issues, stating that the agency is undergoing restructuring and hopes to recruit technical experts within three months and complete its overhaul within six months.
Committee members also raised the issue of alleged personal data leaks being exploited by fraudsters. During the session, it was highlighted that criminals may be using available personal data to lend credibility to their scams, increasing the risk even for high-profile individuals.
Scope of the Problem
The scams targeting senators underscore a broader cybercrime surge in Pakistan. According to independent reporting, online fraud losses have been running into billions of rupees, with scammers leveraging mobile and digital banking vulnerabilities, social engineering tactics and illicit data markets.
Senators noted that the fraudsters’ demands ranged between Rs 500,000 and Rs 550,000 per victim in many instances, and that the criminals often impersonated institutions such as counselling centres to gain victims’ trust.
Urgency and Regulatory Implications
For lawmakers, the fact that parliamentarians themselves are being victimised highlights the urgency of comprehensive cyber governance reforms. The incident has sparked calls for strengthened data protection laws, faster prosecution of cybercrime, and major upgrades to the NCCIA’s investigation and enforcement capacity.
