ISLAMABAD: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency said on Friday it had dismantled an organised network in South Punjab accused of selling sensitive personal data of key individuals, with four suspects arrested so far.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, NCCIA Director General Syed Khurram Ali said the group had been leaking and selling information linked to important personalities for small amounts of money.
According to Ali, investigations revealed that individuals within various institutions were facilitating the illegal access and transfer of data.
“We have learnt that individuals in various departments were providing details for data leakage,” he said.
Ali said the agency was pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against data leaks and the illegal sale of personal information.
“Data leakage and selling of personal information is being dealt with under a zero-tolerance policy,” he said.
He added that citizens’ personal information was allegedly being passed to foreign intelligence agencies and that the investigation had uncovered networks involved in leaking banking and identity-related data.
The NCCIA chief said a special committee had been established in Karachi in coordination with the State Bank of Pakistan to address such cases.
Ali said action was also being taken against government officials allegedly involved in the illegal sale of sensitive data.
“The data being sold included information related to national security and important personalities,” he said.
He stressed the need for greater public awareness regarding cybercrime to help prevent future incidents.
Separately, Ali said the NCCIA’s Lahore office was handling the case involving actor Momina Iqbal and that the investigation would be completed “in days rather than months.”
Rejecting allegations of delay in the case, Ali said action had been initiated immediately after the actress arrived in Lahore.
The NCCIA chief added that the agency currently has 480 personnel nationwide and that efforts were underway to improve operational capacity.
In recent weeks, the agency has carried out multiple operations, including action against a fake call centre in Lahore and arrests linked to online financial fraud cases.
Earlier this month, NCCIA Punjab arrested 13 individuals over alleged anti-state social media activity, while another suspect was detained in Lahore last month over alleged anti-army posts online.