{"id":36370,"date":"2026-01-16T18:04:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T18:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/?p=36370"},"modified":"2026-01-16T18:04:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T18:04:26","slug":"lawmakers-sound-alarm-on-cybercrimes-in-national-assembly-session","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/?p=36370","title":{"rendered":"Lawmakers sound alarm on cybercrimes in National Assembly session"},"content":{"rendered":"
Members of the National Assembly on Friday expressed serious concern over\u00a0rising incidents\u00a0of digital and cyber scams across the country\u00a0with lawmakers from across party lines calling for urgent policy formulation to curb such crimes.<\/p>\n

During the session, chaired by NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, several members highlighted incidents affecting ordinary citizens, underlining the growing severity of cyber fraud.<\/p>\n

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl MNA Naeema Kishwar\u00a0highlighted\u00a0increasing cases of WhatsApp accounts being hacked. \u201cWe receive messages that a member\u2019s phone has been hacked and demands for money are being made. This has become routine. What steps can be taken to control it?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

Drawing attention to another form of fraud, she said criminals were now tricking people under the pretext of parcel deliveries. \u201cA new scam has started: they ask you to resend your number, claiming a parcel will be delivered. This has happened to me three or four times,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

\u0642\u0648\u0645\u06cc \u0627\u0633\u0645\u0628\u0644\u06cc \u0627\u062c\u0644\u0627\u0633 \u06a9\u06d2 \u0648\u0642\u0641\u06c1 \u0633\u0648\u0627\u0644\u0627\u062a \u06a9\u06d2 \u062f\u0648\u0631\u0627\u0646 \u0631\u06a9\u0646 \u0642\u0648\u0645\u06cc \u0627\u0633\u0645\u0628\u0644\u06cc \u0645\u062d\u062a\u0631\u0645\u06c1 \u0646\u0639\u06cc\u0645\u06c1 \u06a9\u0634\u0648\u0631 \u062e\u0627\u0646 \u06a9\u0627 \u0633\u0648\u0634\u0644 \u0645\u06cc\u0688\u06cc\u0627 \u0627\u06cc\u067e\u0644\u06cc\u06a9\u06cc\u0634\u0646 \u0648\u0627\u0679\u0633 \u0627\u06cc\u067e \u06a9\u06d2 \u0630\u0631\u06cc\u0639\u06d2 \u0641\u0631\u0627\u0688 \u0627\u0648\u0631 \u062f\u06cc\u06af\u0631 \u0622\u0646 \u0644\u0627\u0626\u0646 \u0633\u06a9\u06cc\u0645\u0632\/\u0641\u0631\u0627\u0688 \u06a9\u06cc \u0631\u0648\u06a9 \u062a\u06be\u0627\u0645 \u06a9\u06d2 \u0644\u0626\u06d2 \u062d\u06a9\u0648\u0645\u062a \u06a9\u06cc \u062c\u0627\u0646\u0628 \u0633\u06d2 \u0627\u0679\u06be\u0627\u0626\u06d2 \u06af\u0626\u06d2 \u0627\u0642\u062f\u0627\u0645\u0627\u062a \u06a9\u06d2 \u062d\u0648\u0627\u0644\u06d2 \u0633\u06d2 \u0633\u0648\u0627\u0644<\/p>\n

\u0648\u0632\u06cc\u0631 \u0645\u0645\u0644\u06a9\u062a \u0628\u0631\u0627\u0626\u06d2 \u062f\u0627\u062e\u0644\u06c1 \u0648 \u0627\u0646\u0633\u062f\u0627\u062f \u0645\u0646\u0634\u06cc\u0627\u062a\u060c \u0637\u0644\u0627\u0644 \u0686\u0648\u06c1\u062f\u0631\u06cc\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/MNPZe8hUFZ
\n\u2014 National Assembly \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf0 (@NAofPakistan) January 16, 2026<\/p>\n

She warned that such activities were creating serious problems, particularly in the education sector and other key government departments.<\/p>\n

Endorsing her concerns, Speaker Sadiq, while referring to Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, noted that similar scams involved funds for the Benazir Income Support Programme\u00a0and fake parcel deliveries. He cited an incident in which\u00a0Kishwar was falsely targeted for money demands despite never seeking any funds.<\/p>\n

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that\u00a0changes in WhatsApp’s\u00a0features had contributed to a surge in hacking complaints, adding that the restoration of a security feature had since led to a decline in such cases.<\/p>\n

PTI MNA\u00a0Sheharyar Afridi also expressed worry, particularly over the risks faced by children. He said links sent via WhatsApp, Instagram and Snapchat often contained blasphemous or anti-state content.<\/p>\n

\u201cSenders use names of universities, colleges, madressas or organisations. When children reply, they are asked to send links in exchange for detailed information,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Afridi warned that most children, especially in rural areas, were unaware of the dangers, with some even facing jail terms, causing distress to their families. \u201cIt\u2019s not just boys, but also girls who become victims of this,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u0642\u0648\u0645\u06cc \u0627\u0633\u0645\u0628\u0644\u06cc \u06a9\u06d2 \u0627\u062c\u0644\u0627\u0633 \u06a9\u06d2 \u0648\u0642\u0641\u06c2 \u0633\u0648\u0627\u0644\u0627\u062a \u06a9\u06d2 \u062f\u0648\u0631\u0627\u0646 \u0631\u06a9\u0646 \u0642\u0648\u0645\u06cc \u0627\u0633\u0645\u0628\u0644\u06cc \u0634\u06c1\u0631\u06cc\u0627\u0631 \u062e\u0627\u0646 \u0622\u0641\u0631\u06cc\u062f\u06cc \u0646\u06d2 \u0639\u0648\u0627\u0645 \u0628\u0627\u0644\u062e\u0635\u0648\u0635 \u0646\u0648\u062c\u0648\u0627\u0646\u0648\u06ba \u06a9\u0648 \u0633\u0648\u0634\u0644 \u0645\u06cc\u0688\u06cc\u0627 \u0627\u06cc\u067e\u0644\u06cc\u06a9\u06cc\u0634\u0646\u0632 \u067e\u0631 \u0645\u0648\u0635\u0648\u0644 \u06c1\u0648\u0646\u06d2 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u06d2 \u062e\u0637\u0631\u0646\u0627\u06a9\u060c \u062a\u0648\u06c1\u06cc\u0646 \u0622\u0645\u06cc\u0632\u060c \u062c\u0639\u0644\u06cc \u0627\u0648\u0631 \u062f\u06be\u0648\u06a9\u06c1 \u062f\u06c1\u06cc \u067e\u0631 \u0645\u0628\u0646\u06cc \u0644\u0646\u06a9\u0633 \u06a9\u06d2 \u062d\u0648\u0627\u0644\u06d2 \u0633\u06d2 \u0633\u0648\u0627\u0644 \u0627\u0679\u06be\u0627\u06cc\u0627\u060c \u062c\u0646 \u06a9\u06d2 \u062c\u0648\u0627\u0628 \u062f\u06cc\u0646\u06d2 \u06a9\u06d2 \u0646\u062a\u06cc\u062c\u06d2 \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u0645\u0639\u0635\u0648\u0645 \u0646\u0648\u062c\u0648\u0627\u0646\u0648\u06ba \u0627\u0648\u0631 \u0634\u06c1\u0631\u06cc\u0648\u06ba\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/S9bKZyzgrc
\n\u2014 National Assembly \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf0 (@NAofPakistan) January 16, 2026<\/p>\n

Chaudhry described such networks as a “mafia” using blackmail tactics and said many suspects had been released following investigations. \u201cMany have been freed from jail, and numerous cases have been closed,\u201d he said, adding that cases involving religious matters remained particularly sensitive and put pressure on judges and officials.<\/p>\n

The NA speaker asked the minister to provide a detailed briefing, referring to an incident involving MNA Nikhat Shakeel. \u201cA message was sent in her name asking for money while claiming she was outside a PC (Pearl Continental). She had no knowledge, yet people sent her millions of rupees,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Speaker Sadiq said the scams were highly organised, with criminals using computers instead of mobile phones and discarding chips after use. He also revealed that his voice had been cloned and used to demand money. \u201cThe person called me and I confirmed I had never asked for money. The voice in the message was identical to mine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u0642\u0648\u0645\u06cc \u0627\u0633\u0645\u0628\u0644\u06cc \u06a9\u06d2 \u0627\u062c\u0644\u0627\u0633 \u06a9\u06d2 \u0648\u0642\u0641\u06c2 \u0633\u0648\u0627\u0644\u0627\u062a \u06a9\u06d2 \u062f\u0648\u0631\u0627\u0646 \u0631\u06a9\u0646 \u0642\u0648\u0645\u06cc \u0627\u0633\u0645\u0628\u0644\u06cc \u0645\u062d\u062a\u0631\u0645\u06c1 \u0634\u0627\u0632\u06cc\u06c1 \u0645\u0631\u06cc \u0646\u06d2 \u0645\u0644\u06a9 \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u0634\u06c1\u0631\u06cc\u0648\u06ba \u06a9\u0648 \u0622\u0646 \u0644\u0627\u0626\u0646 \u062c\u0639\u0644\u06cc \u0679\u0631\u06cc\u0641\u06a9 \u0686\u0627\u0644\u0627\u0646 \u0645\u0648\u0635\u0648\u0644 \u06c1\u0648\u0646\u06d2 \u0633\u06d2 \u067e\u06cc\u062f\u0627 \u06c1\u0648\u0646\u06d2 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u06d2 \u0645\u0633\u0627\u0626\u0644 \u06a9\u06d2 \u062d\u0648\u0627\u0644\u06d2 \u0633\u06d2 \u0633\u0648\u0627\u0644 \u0627\u0679\u06be\u0627\u06cc\u0627\u06d4<\/p>\n

\u0648\u0632\u06cc\u0631 \u0645\u0645\u0644\u06a9\u062a \u0628\u0631\u0627\u0626\u06d2 \u062f\u0627\u062e\u0644\u06c1 \u0648 \u0627\u0646\u0633\u062f\u0627\u062f \u0645\u0646\u0634\u06cc\u0627\u062a\u060c \u0637\u0644\u0627\u0644 \u0686\u0648\u06c1\u062f\u0631\u06cc \u0646\u06d2 \u0627\u0646 \u06a9\u06d2 \u0633\u0648\u0627\u0644 \u06a9\u0627 \u062c\u0648\u0627\u0628 \u062f\u06cc\u0627#NASession\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/2lqao7R36t
\n\u2014 National Assembly \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf0 (@NAofPakistan) January 16, 2026<\/p>\n

PPP MNA Shazia Marri highlighted another scam involving fake traffic challans circulating\u00a0via text messages and WhatsApp that displayed\u00a0overspeeding violations and demanded\u00a0Rs500.<\/p>\n

She said her sister, Senator Quratulain Marri,\u00a0had never been to Lahore but received a challan. The PPP MNA added that thousands of people receiving such messages might eventually believe they had committed a violation.<\/p>\n

Providing official figures regarding the crimes, the state minister\u00a0informed the NA\u00a0that more than 150,000 cybercrime complaints were reported nationwide in 2025. Responding to a question by MNA Erum Hamid, he said the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) received 150,542 complaints during the year, including 81,996 related to financial fraud and 2,974 concerning WhatsApp account hacking.<\/p>\n

He said cyber-enabled financial crimes remained a major challenge, ranging from fake investment schemes to account takeovers and online impersonation.<\/p>\n

The minister said the government had launched multiple initiatives to promote digital literacy and cyber awareness among vulnerable groups, including rural populations, women, elderly citizens and low-literacy communities. These included a public awareness and reporting portal (nccia.gov.pk), a dedicated cybercrime helpline (1799), and outreach programmes with schools and academic institutions.<\/p>\n

On emerging threats, he said the government was finalising the country’s first national AI\u00a0policy, acknowledging that deepfake and voice-cloning scams posed rapidly evolving risks, requiring stronger technical, legal and public-awareness responses.<\/p>\n

Giving details of enforcement action, Chaudhry said 10,756 formal inquiries were initiated after scrutiny of complaints, leading to the registration of 851 cases. A total of 1,095 suspects were arrested so far, with financial crimes involving Rs2.716 billion, of which Rs452.376 million were recovered.<\/p>\n

The NA was told that the Ministry of Interior, in coordination with relevant agencies, was working to strengthen legal, technical and institutional frameworks to counter cybercrime and improve protection for citizens in an increasingly digital environment.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Members of the National Assembly on Friday expressed serious concern over\u00a0rising incidents\u00a0of digital and cyber scams across the country\u00a0with lawmakers from across party lines calling for urgent policy formulation to curb such crimes. During the session, chaired by NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, several members highlighted incidents affecting ordinary citizens, underlining the growing severity of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-english-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36370"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36370\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36370"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipp-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}