ISLAMABAD (S Awan) In the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, online financial fraud, withdrawal of money from bank accounts through duplicate SIM, cyber crimes and the issue of Pakistani sailors held hostage by Somali pirates were discussed in detail. NCCIA officials told the committee that during the last three years, the agency has received 227,757 complaints of online financial fraud, in which the reported financial loss is worth more than Rs.8 billion, while the agency has disbursed Rs.2.86 billion.

In the meeting presided over by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, the committee members raised questions on the increase in online fraud, misuse of personal data of citizens and security systems of financial institutions and telecom companies. The chairperson committee said that many cases of digital fraud are coming to the fore these days and they themselves are facing complaints of business accounts being hacked and receiving suspicious messages. According to him, he also received a call through which the caller knew even his home address.

The chairperson questioned why the fraudsters are not arrested when the concerned agencies have the phone numbers of the fraudsters. He also expressed his displeasure over the absence of DGNCCIA Ali Nasir Rizvi in ​​the meeting and directed the authorities to give a briefing on the issue of online financial fraud.


In the meeting, Senator Quratul Ain Marri said that two members of the National Assembly, Farhan Chishti and Shehryar Maher, were involved in a financial fraud, in which duplicate SIMs were allegedly issued in their names. According to him, the mobile phones of the two members were suddenly switched off or deactivated, after which it was found that other SIMs were issued in their names.

Senator Quratul Ain Marri raised the question that if neither OTP nor pin code was obtained from the victims, then how their accounts were defrauded. He said that the responsibility of telecom companies and related institutions should be determined in this matter.

NCCIA officials responded that such cases could be investigated in collaboration with other concerned agencies. However, Senator Quratul Ain Marri expressed dissatisfaction with the response, saying that his question was not being answered directly.

The committee members also raised questions on the procedure for issuing duplicate SIMs and the identity verification system. Officials said the agency receives complaints of cybercrime and investigates within its jurisdiction.


According to NCCIA officials, among the online financial frauds, banking transactions and fraud through OTP received the most complaints, while fraud through WhatsApp and SMS were reported second. Officials also mentioned financial fraud through account hacking and crypto-Ponzi schemes, while cases of digital blackmail and theft of funds through e-wallets are also being reported.

More than 60 percent of the complaints received related to cybercrimes include financial fraud cases, officials said. He said that the agency is investigating various types of cyber crimes, but in each case the role of the relevant agencies has to be taken into consideration.

During the meeting, Senator Masroor Ahsan said that there are serious concerns regarding the protection of citizens' data and the relevant institutions should focus on prevention of such incidents instead of taking action after fraud. They also raised concerns about misuse of data and access to information by outside elements.


NCCIA officials told the committee that action was taken against a company registered as Golden Box in Islamabad in a case of financial fraud. According to officials, a fraud of around Rs 13 crore was committed in this case, out of which up to Rs 5 crore was recovered and returned.

Officials said the agency acts as a cyber police and investigates financial fraud cases along with other related companies and institutions. He also said that in the case of an online scam involving the Chinese embassy, ​​the scammers were allegedly located in Cambodia.

In the meeting, officials said that during the year 2026, 1.6 billion rupees were recovered in financial fraud cases. However, the committee members stressed the need to make the system more effective in preventing fraud, providing prompt refunds to victims and taking action against those responsible.


Officials of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority told the committee that a Social Media Regulatory Authority has been established, which will cooperate with the relevant agencies in the matter of online complaints. According to officials, PTA has provided online platforms to 56 institutions and action is taken to block the respective accounts on receipt of complaints.

On this occasion, Senator Quratul Ain Marri criticized the behavior of the concerned institutions and said that every institution gets away from its responsibility by saying that the matter under discussion does not come under its jurisdiction. He stressed that in cases of financial fraud, all the relevant institutions have to take effective measures by accepting their responsibility.

Committee chairperson Samina Mumtaz Zahri also raised questions citing a crypto-related case and said that effective investigations are necessary to understand and prevent complex patterns of digital fraud.


In the second part of the meeting, the long imprisonment of the Pakistani crew of the ship MT Honor 25 taken hostage by Somali pirates, the death of three Pakistani citizens and the issue of compensation to the affected families were also considered.

Director Shipping, DGPS Wing Asif Haroon told the committee that a local tribe was appointed as mediator to negotiate with the pirates and there were three rounds of talks between the tribal elders. During the negotiations, it was hoped that the ship and crew would be released, but the hijackers reneged on the promise.

According to Asif Haroon, several meetings were held with the families of the crew and their complaints were conveyed to the relevant ministries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said that the contact with the families of the staff was maintained till the last day and there is also a record of meetings and contacts.

The committee members raised questions on compensation to the families of the kidnapped sailors and rehabilitation of the victims. Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan said that there is no clear procedure for payment of compensation to the injured staff members. On this, Asif Haroon said that the families of the deceased staff members are compensated as per the rules.

The meeting was informed that the abducted staff members started getting salaries after about eight to nine months. The chairperson committee said that the mental agony of Pakistani sailors who have been in prison for a long time and the pressure and hardships their families have to bear should also be addressed.

The committee members raised the question as to why a strong protest was not made by summoning the Somali ambassador. It was also felt in the meeting that the ship owner was more focused on the safety of his ship and oil rather than the release of the crew.

The committee suggested calling the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs in the next meeting for further consideration of the matter to get clarification on diplomatic efforts for the release of Pakistani sailors, compensation to the victims and rehabilitation measures.