Senators Reveal Major Online Scam Targeting Parliamentarians
ISLAMABAD: In a startling disclosure, the Senate Standing Committee on Interior was informed that hackers have defrauded several members of Parliament of millions of rupees through online scams.
The committee, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem, learned that cybercriminals had deceived multiple lawmakers by extracting large sums of money through fraudulent schemes. Senator Saifullah Abro revealed that the hacker group typically demands amounts ranging between Rs500,000 and Rs550,000.
Lawmakers Fall Victim to Cyber Fraud
According to details shared during the session, hackers withdrew Rs850,000 from Senator Dilawar Khan’s bank account. Senator Falak Naz Chitrali also lost Rs500,000 in two separate transactions.
Senator Falak Naz said she was duped through a phone call from individuals claiming they were collecting funds for a counseling center. “They had complete personal information about me, including details about my family and children,” she said.
No Action Despite Complaints
Despite lodging formal complaints with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Senator Falak Naz said no action had been taken to trace or apprehend the culprits.
Senators Demand Urgent Action Against Cybercrime
Committee members expressed serious concern over the revelations, warning that such incidents reflect growing cyber vulnerabilities in Pakistan. Lawmakers urged authorities to take immediate steps to curb online fraud, strengthen digital security, and protect citizens from similar scams.
The committee called for enhanced coordination between the interior ministry, law enforcement agencies, and banks to prevent future cyberattacks targeting public officials.
