Members of the National Assembly voiced serious concern over the sharp rise in digital and cyber scams across Pakistan during a session held on Friday, calling for urgent and coordinated policy measures to address the growing threat. Lawmakers from across party lines highlighted how evolving online fraud techniques are increasingly targeting ordinary citizens, creating widespread anxiety and financial losses. The session was chaired by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and attended by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, alongside several MNAs who shared firsthand accounts of emerging cybercrime trends affecting communities nationwide.
Jamiat Ulema e Islam Fazl MNA Naeema Kishwar drew attention to the frequent hacking of WhatsApp accounts, describing it as a routine problem faced by both lawmakers and the general public. She said victims often receive messages claiming their accounts have been compromised, followed by demands for money sent to contacts using their identity. Kishwar also highlighted a new scam involving fake parcel deliveries, where individuals are asked to resend their phone numbers under the pretext of receiving a shipment. She shared that she personally encountered such attempts multiple times. According to her, these fraudulent activities are not limited to individuals but are also affecting the education sector and key government departments, amplifying their disruptive impact.
Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq endorsed these concerns and pointed to similar scams linked to Benazir Income Support Programme funds and false delivery messages. He cited an incident where Naeema Kishwar was falsely portrayed as seeking financial help despite never requesting funds. Minister of State Talal Chaudhry explained that recent changes in WhatsApp features had contributed to a surge in hacking complaints, though the restoration of a security feature had led to a decline in reported cases. PTI MNA Sheharyar Afridi warned that children were particularly vulnerable to online manipulation, with links circulated on platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram and Snapchat often containing blasphemous or anti state material. He said senders frequently use names of universities, colleges, madressas or organizations to gain trust, after which children are pressured to share information or forward links. Afridi stressed that lack of awareness, especially in rural areas, has resulted in severe consequences for families, affecting both boys and girls.
Talal Chaudhry described these cyber networks as an organized mafia relying on blackmail and intimidation. He said many suspects were later sacked from custody following investigations, with numerous cases closed due to sensitivity, particularly those involving religious matters that place pressure on judges and officials. Speaker Sadiq requested a detailed briefing after recounting an incident involving MNA Nikhat Shakeel, whose identity was misused to solicit money while claiming she was outside a PC hotel, leading people to send millions of rupees without her knowledge. He also revealed that his own voice had been cloned and used in a scam, noting that the impersonation was nearly identical. PPP MNA Shazia Marri highlighted fake traffic challan messages demanding Rs500, sharing that her sister Senator Quratulain Marri received a violation notice despite never visiting Lahore. Official data shared during the session showed that NCCIA received 150,542 cybercrime complaints in 2025, including nearly 82,000 related to financial fraud and close to 3,000 WhatsApp hacking cases. The government has launched awareness initiatives, a reporting portal at nccia.gov.pk and helpline 1799, while finalizing the country first national AI policy to counter deepfake and voice cloning scams.
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