Tag: cybercrime

  • Dr. Omer Adil arrested after Gharida Farooqi’s legal complaint

    Dr. Omer Adil arrested after Gharida Farooqi’s legal complaint

    Lahore police have arrested cultural analyst and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Omer Adil after a legal complaint by anchor Gharida Farooqui, who accused Dr. Adil of passing derogatory and obscene remarks against her and other female television hosts.

    In July, during an appearance on the podcast Dil Ki Baat hosted by Zohaib Butt, Dr. Adil went on a misogynistic rant: “These anchors are somehow in touch with high profile Pakistanis. Female anchors are treated in an extraordinary manner. Nobody cares about the male anchor sitting next to the female anchor.”

    Dr Umer Adil added that even their show’s producers have no guts to instruct the women or criticize them on their mistakes. In fact, in those cases, producers leave the show and run away.

    In a statement shared on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Gharida Farooqui wrote, “Dr. Omer Adil has been arrested after my legal request. Dr. Umar Adil made obscene, vulgar and defamatory allegations against me and all women working in the media on the digital platform; In which especially my name was taken. I gave an opportunity to Dr. Omar Adil in legal proceedings to apologize publicly, but he did not do so. Salute to all the law enforcement agencies who acted on my request for the protection of women. It is hoped that justice will be done and the perpetrators of crimes against women will be brought to an end, and women will get full protection in Pakistan.”

    Farooqui also wrote in her tweet, “This arrest has been made by FIA, and all the officials of Cybercrime Wing Lahore, including DG FIA, deserve a lot of thanks and appreciation. They are doing the legal process in the best way with full professional responsibility.”

    Social media users have shown their support for Farooqui by expressing sympathy and supporting her stance against misogyny and defamation on her X account.

  • Crackdown intensifies against illegal constructions in Karachi

    Crackdown intensifies against illegal constructions in Karachi

    The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has intensified efforts to combat unauthorised constructions across Karachi, leading to the demolition of several structures, including wedding halls.

    In a recent operation targeting illegal construction in District Central Karachi, SBCA personnel faced gunfire from unidentified individuals. Despite the danger, SBCA officials pressed on, successfully demolishing the fourth floor of a targeted building.

    The Director General of SBCA, Abdul Rasheed Solangi, swiftly directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Central to apprehend the culprits and initiate legal action against those responsible for the shooting.

    Solangi stressed the crucial need for resolute enforcement against illegal construction, commending the dedication and integrity of the SBCA staff. He assured them of unwavering support to ensure their safety and effectiveness in carrying out their duties amidst challenges.

    The crackdown on illegal construction continues across various parts of the city. Abdul Rasheed Solangi, along with the Demolition Squad, oversaw the demolition of multiple buildings in areas such as Essa Nagri, Paposh Nagar, and Gulberg.

    Additionally, over 13 illegal structures have been dismantled in localities including Saddar Town, Jamshed Town, Gulberg, and Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

    Director General Abdul Rasheed Solangi personally supervises the ongoing crackdown on illegal construction, underscoring the authority’s commitment to uphold building regulations and ensure public safety.

    Meanwhile, Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani has issued directives to eradicate all forms of unauthorised construction in the city. He emphasised the importance of taking stringent action against any SBCA officials found complicit in facilitating illegal construction.

  • Massive data breach: 2.2 million Pakistani citizens’ personal information for sale online

    Massive data breach: 2.2 million Pakistani citizens’ personal information for sale online

    According to a report from Geo News, the personal data of 2.2 million Pakistani citizens has been compromised and put up for sale online. This breach occurred when hackers gained unauthorised access to a private company-made database that is utilised by hundreds of restaurants. 

    The hackers have even gone so far as to display some citizens’ data as samples in their online sale advertisement. In their claim, the hackers asserted, “We have hacked the databases of over 250 restaurants,” and they listed numerous food outlets. 

    The compromised citizen data includes contact numbers and credit card details. The affected software is widely used by many restaurants across the country. Furthermore, details such as the number of transactions and the amounts paid by citizens are available for purchase online. 

    The hackers are demanding 2 Bitcoins in exchange for the compromised citizen data, which equates to approximately $54,000, considering that one Bitcoin is valued at $27,000 based on market sources. In Pakistani rupees, this amounts to over Rs15 million. 

    As of now, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FBR) cybercrime circle has not received any complaints regarding this incident. 

    It is worth noting that the federal government recently issued a directive advising all information technology (IT) and financial institutions, including regulators, to avoid collaborating with, installing, or using Indian-origin artificial intelligence (AI) and information and communication technology (ICT) products.  

    This advisory was issued due to concerns that these products could pose a constant, concealed, and force multiplier threat to Pakistan’s critical information infrastructure (CII). 

    The government shared this cybersecurity advisory with federal and provincial ministries and sectoral regulators. The advisory highlighted that globally, AI products and services are widely employed by various industries, including the financial and banking sectors, to accelerate their growth. 

    The document also noted that the fintech sector in Pakistan, along with some banks, was engaged with Indian-origin companies that offered IT products, cybersecurity solutions, and AI solutions.  

    The use of Indian security products and solutions was considered a potential threat to Pakistan’s CII, particularly the banking sector, due to the possibility of backdoors or malware collecting logs, data traffic analysis, and personal identifiable information (PII).  

    Additionally, it pointed out the risk of direct Indian ingress into Pakistan’s CII through technical means and access control with passive monitoring capability. 

  • New laws to fight cybercrime in Pakistan: Cabinet passes e-safety and data protection bills

    New laws to fight cybercrime in Pakistan: Cabinet passes e-safety and data protection bills

    In a significant development, the federal cabinet of Pakistan granted principle approval to two crucial pieces of legislation on Wednesday, which are expected to have a far-reaching impact on digital rights, e-commerce, and the digital economy of the country.

    The first bill, named the E-Safety Bill 2023, aims to tackle and prevent online crimes such as cyberbullying, online harassment, and blackmailing. To enforce the provisions of this bill, the cabinet also greenlit the establishment of a regulatory authority known as ‘The E-Safety Authority.’ This authority will be responsible for registering and monitoring websites, web channels, YouTube channels, and existing media houses’ websites. The main objective behind this initiative is to safeguard the rights of citizens, businesses, as well as public and private institutions from online harassment and blackmail.

    Presently, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has the authority to monitor content and enforce relevant laws online, while the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) handles cybercrime-related cases. However, the proposed E-Safety Authority will take charge of the front-end monitoring of all websites, promptly addressing violations and imposing penalties. This measure is deemed necessary due to the rapid pace at which cybercrime incidents occur, often exceeding the FIA’s investigative capacity, while the PTA’s role is primarily limited to regulatory functions for internet and telecom service providers.

    According to Dawn, the second bill, titled the Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, focuses on protecting user data and preventing the unauthorised use of information systems. The bill will apply to all types of online services, including online shopping platforms, various companies, and social networking websites operating in Pakistan. It aims to safeguard consumers’ data and ensure that it is not misused or illegally accessed.

    As per the official statement, “personal data” under the proposed legislation refers to any information directly or indirectly related to an identifiable individual, encompassing sensitive or critical personal data. The bill mandates all entities collecting or maintaining data, digitally or non-digitally operational in Pakistan, to register themselves locally and appoint a data protection officer. The National Commission for Personal Data Protection (NCPDP) will oversee the registration process and will establish sub-offices in provincial capitals and other necessary locations within six months of the bill’s passage.

    However, the approval of the Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 has raised concerns among international bodies representing internet-based platforms. The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), through its Managing Director Jeff Paine, highlighted that the bill’s current form falls short of international data protection standards and imposes unnecessary complexities that may increase the cost of doing business and hinder foreign investment. The requirement for “critical” data to be stored locally and the restriction on cross-border transfer of other personal data could potentially limit access to global digital services for Pakistanis.

    In response to these concerns, the AIC has called for more transparent stakeholder consultations by the government. Digital rights campaigner and Meta board member, Nighat Dad, expressed similar sentiments, stating that while the bill addresses important issues, the lack of consultations is undemocratic.

    Despite concerns from international bodies, an official from the IT ministry defended the legislation, emphasising that the government’s primary responsibility is to protect Pakistan’s interests and its citizens. He asserted that commercial entities’ apprehensions are primarily driven by their business concerns.

    The approval of these significant bills marks a crucial step towards enhancing digital rights and data protection in Pakistan. As the nation progresses into a more digitally interconnected era, finding a balanced approach that addresses concerns from both local and international stakeholders will be crucial for the country’s digital economy and growth.

  • National awareness campaign launched to protect children against cybercrime

    National awareness campaign launched to protect children against cybercrime

    The Federal Ombudsman’s nationwide public awareness campaign aimed at educating the wider populace and relevant groups about the skills and methods needed to combat cybercrime against children is now in full swing.

    On Sunday, a representative for the Federal Ombudsman Office said that as part of the program, state-run broadcasting stations broadcast informational messages and programmes about the prevention and control of cyber-crime against children in Urdu and regional languages.

    The strategic goal of the awareness campaign, according to Commissioner for Children Syeda Viqar un Nisa Hashmi, is to raise public awareness about the effects of cyber-crime abuse and exploitation of minors, as well as to educate children so that they could protect themselves from such situations.

    He went on to say that politicians were encouraged to bring legal amendments to the issue as part of the protection drive. The FIA Cyber Crime Cell is also conducting operations to apprehend the remaining suspects. 

    Read more: Lahore Police arrested 648 dacoits, recovering more than Rs27 crore in three months

    Earlier, the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cyber Crime Cell also nabbed a gang in Lahore that was allegedly making money from the dark web through juvenile crime.

  • After Mashal Khan, Sabeeka Imam receives acid attack threats

    After Mashal Khan, Sabeeka Imam receives acid attack threats

    Pakistani model Sabeeka Imam has received an acid attack threat from an Instagram user. She has shared all the screenshots on her Instagram profile and contacted the relevant authorities to report the incident, reports by The Express Tribune.

    While posting the screenshots, she also tagged Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Cybercrime, and British Council Pakistan to report the acid attack threats and insulting words used by the netizen.

    The user commented, “Get ready for Acid attack you p*rnstar. You are going to remove from our society like Qandeel Baloch.” The user has used derogatory terms for the model and her mother in the post.

    People are showing support to the model and demanding strict action from the authorities against the user.

    Last year, Thora Sa Haq star Mashal Khan also received similar acid attack threats on her social media. She reported the incident to the concerned authority to take action.

  • Nadra denies FIA’s claim that national database has been hacked

    Nadra denies FIA’s claim that national database has been hacked

    A meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology on Thursday witnessed a curious discussion on the security of important data as an official of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claimed that the system of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) had been hacked. He later changed his statement when pressed to elaborate upon his remarks.

    “We have discovered that Nadra’s data has been compromised, it has been hacked,” Tariq Pervez, additional director of FIA’s Cybercrime Wing, told the meeting chaired by Ali Khan Jadoon. The FIA had seized around 13,000 illegal SIMs during a crackdown in Faisalabad, he said.

    Pervez said that 89,000 complaints have been received by his wing, but they did not have enough staff to address the complaints reported on a daily basis.

    “The FIA’s cybercrime wing has only 162 investigation officers,” he added.

    Pervez’s statement caught the attention of the committee members who put various questions to him regarding the theft of Nadra data. After this accusation, the FIA’s additional director altered his statement and said that Nadra’s data had not been hacked, but its biometric system had been compromised and used during the SIM verification process.

    He further informed the committee that whenever they traced a suspect involved in financial frauds, the suspect mostly turned out to be an elderly man or a woman, whose data was being used by someone else.

    Nadra, refuting the claim of the FIA official in a statement, said, “The FIA statement regarding hacking of biometric data is based on misunderstanding,” adding that Nadra would seek clarification from the FIA over the “unnecessary statement and misrepresentation of the issue”.

    Responding to concerns of the committee members, Pakistan Telecommuni­ca­tion Authority (PTA) chairman retired Maj Gen Amir Azeem Bajwa said that complaints could be lodged against those involved in sending messages related to financial fraud at the PTA website.

    Jadoon of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the chairman of the committee, stressed that it was essential to keep national interest and national perspective into consideration while formulating laws.

  • ‘PC bhijwaega, actresses are not prostitutes’: Amna Kareim calls out harasser

    ‘PC bhijwaega, actresses are not prostitutes’: Amna Kareim calls out harasser

    Actor Amna Kareim has shared that she has been receiving calls and messages from an anonymous man.

    The Meenu Ka susral star shared a screenshot of a chat in which a man is messaging her, in which he offered her to meet in PC hotel (Pearl Continental).

    She shared that this man is calling her from two different numbers and said that his name is Danish. While she also shared that she has lodged a complain in Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

    “I already did complain by myself but we all should expose such things to save our ladies,” she wrote.

    On the work front, she was last seen in HUM TV’s Abro.

  • Dawn in trouble ‘for suggesting Shireen Mazari got FIA official sacked on daughter’s call’

    Dawn in trouble ‘for suggesting Shireen Mazari got FIA official sacked on daughter’s call’

    English daily Dawn has landed in hot water “for suggesting that Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari got a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official removed from office on the call of her daughter, Imaan Mazari”.

    As per the details, Asif Iqbal of FIA’s cybercrime wing had registered an FIR against singer Meesha Shafi, actor Iffat Omer and seven others for their alleged involvement in a vilification campaign against singer Ali Zafar.

    Iqbal, who often uses his social media to share details of different cybercrime laws and punishments, was removed from office after a tweet mentioning Section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Media Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.

    A notification by FIA director (cybercrime wing) announced the suspension of assistant director Iqbal soon after the said tweet.

    “Service of Muhammad Asif Iqbal, assistant director/senior investigator (BPS-17) cybercrime reporting centre Lahore is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect till further orders,” read the notification without any reason, prior warning or show-cause notice.

    Dawn had quoted an official source as saying that Iqbal was suspended on the basis of the tweet.

    It wasn’t later that Twitterati, including prominent ones, started alleging that some influential person in Islamabad was behind the sacking.

    Amid the claims and the subsequent report by Dawn, hashtags ‘#JusticeforAsifIqbal’ and ‘#SackShireenMazari’ started trending on Twitter.

    “Dawn sunk to new lows by publishing a maliciously motivated incorrect news story about how I had an FIA cybercrime official suspended after my daughter tweeted,” Shireen Mazari said soon after.

    “FIA put out an immediate rejoinder to the Dawn story but some are bent on maligning and character assassination,” she added.

    Meanwhile, her daughter tweeted that she will be serving a legal notice to Dawn for insinuating her involvement in the removal of the officer.

    “[I] have nothing to do with this and to publish a false story implicating me is unacceptable. This false story resulted in vicious online abuse and this reporter should now come to court with evidence,” Imaan wrote.

    FIA, on the other hand, has issued a statement saying it suspended Iqbal for acting as its “unofficial” spokesperson.

    “Assistant Director Asif Iqbal was suspended and issued an explanation for maintaining a private Twitter account bearing cybercrime wing Lahore. He was acting as a spokesman for the cybercrime wing on his own accord without permission which is against disciplinary rules,” a statement posted by the wing’s spokesperson read.

    This provided yet another little twist to a rare case where the agency had sought to discipline one of its own staffers.