The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency is facing an extensive backlog with 50,000 cybercrime cases currently unresolved, a situation formally acknowledged during a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Interior. The scale of pending investigations has drawn significant concern from lawmakers, who questioned the agency’s ability to manage rising digital crime while ensuring credible oversight. The briefing brought forward issues surrounding operational capacity, internal management and the widening gap between complaint volumes and available investigative resources.
During the session, the Director General informed the committee that the shortage of staff remained one of the most pressing challenges, providing a specific example from Lahore where 915 inquiries had been assigned to one investigating officer. He explained that NCCIA had sought additional personnel from FIA and that new officers had now joined the agency. This request reflected growing pressure on NCCIA as cyber fraud incidents continue to expand, including cases involving parliamentarians who have reported being targeted through various fraudulent schemes. Officials noted that progress had been made in the case affecting Senator Falak Naz Chitrali, while Senator Palwasha Khan informed the committee about recent extortion attempts executed using the name of her colleague Mehdi Shah. These developments highlighted the growing sophistication of cyber fraud campaigns and the need for reinforced investigative capability across the agency.
The Director General also disclosed that 21 officials were currently facing FIRs linked to corruption related inquiries, raising further concerns about internal accountability. In a separate fraud investigation, eight suspects had been apprehended and authorities recovered Rs 45 million. Lawmakers questioned how some FIA officials were able to accumulate substantial properties within a short timeframe, with committee members arguing for stronger oversight into financial activities of personnel involved in cybercrime investigations. Senator Saifullah Abro pressed for the formation of a subcommittee to examine corruption allegations in greater detail, stating that agencies responsible for identifying wrongdoing must also be held to the same standards of scrutiny. His remarks added to broader concerns that internal lapses may be contributing to the rising backlog of cases and slowing progress in sensitive investigations.
An update was also presented regarding the unresolved murder case of Senator Muhammad Aslam’s brother and nephew. The Additional IG Sindh informed the committee that police teams remained stationed in Quetta and that multiple enforcement actions had been initiated, including seizing properties linked to suspects and blocking identity cards. Twelve bank accounts associated with the suspects had been frozen, although investigators had received only two mobile CDRs so far, limiting further progress. Committee members directed officials to expedite all pending inquiry reports and emphasized that if cyber fraud itself was affecting parliamentarians, ordinary citizens were likely at an even greater disadvantage. The ongoing crisis within NCCIA was seen as evidence of the urgent need for structured reforms, improved staffing, stronger monitoring mechanisms and clearer investigative workflows to ensure that cybercrime complaints receive timely and effective attention across the country.
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