The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is facing a major operational crisis, with 50,000 cases currently pending.
The figure was revealed by the Director General during a detailed briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, raising concerns over the agency’s capacity and internal oversight. Lawmakers questioned how such a large backlog had developed despite the rise in cybercrime complaints across the country.
According to the DG, Lahore alone has 915 inquiries assigned to a single investigating officer, highlighting a severe shortage of manpower. He said the NCCIA had requested additional staff from the FIA, and the officers who had demanded have now been provided. The briefing also pointed to a growing number of cyber fraud cases targeting parliamentarians.
Officials confirmed arrests in the case involving Senator Falak Naz Chitrali, while Senator Palwasha Khan reported recent extortion attempts using the name of her colleague, Mehdi Shah.
The DG further disclosed that 21 officials are facing FIRs in corruption-related cases. In another fraud investigation, eight suspects have been arrested, and Rs 45 million has been recovered.
Lawmakers questioned how some FIA officials managed to build large properties within a single year, calling for deeper scrutiny. Senator Saifullah Abro demanded the formation of a subcommittee to investigate corruption, arguing that institutions exposing wrongdoing must also be held accountable for their own conduct.
In a separate update, the Additional IG Sindh briefed the committee on the unresolved murder case of Senator Muhammad Aslam’s brother and nephew. Police teams remain deployed in Quetta, and authorities have begun seizing properties linked to the suspects. Their identity cards have been blocked and 12 bank accounts frozen, although investigators have so far received only two mobile CDRs.
Officials were instructed to expedite all pending inquiry reports. Participants noted that if parliamentarians continue to fall victim to cyber fraud, ordinary citizens face even greater risks. The situation highlighted the need for urgent reforms in NCCIA’s investigative processes and internal accountability mechanisms.