Mr. Chaudhry has been instructed to report to the NCCIA headquarters in Islamabad. He stated that he had been transferred to the headquarters and had requested a six-month leave. “The task I had taken up will be met by my successor. However, to those involved in trolling me on social media, I will respond at an appropriate time,” he said.
Mr. Chaudhry was recently involved in three controversies. The first concerned a crackdown on several YouTubers and social media influencers, including Saadur Rehman, known as Ducky Bhai, and Rajab Butt, for their alleged involvement in unregulated online trading and online gambling apps.
The second controversy was the registration of an FIR against lawyers who allegedly tried to get a suspect released from the NCCIA. A lawyer involved claimed the suspect was detained illegally and that a court-appointed bailiff had visited the NCCIA in Lahore to secure his release. The third controversy involved a dispute between a group of Lahore journalists and a serving DIG and other police officials, after the journalists asked the NCCIA to take action against the officers.
According to an official, Mr. Chaudhry was transferred in light of different complaints against him.
NCCIA Arrests Seven Suspects for Online Financial Fraud
Meanwhile, the NCCIA arrested seven suspects for online financial fraud. An NCCIA team conducted a raid in Silanwali, Sargodha, and arrested Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Yaseen, Muhammad Suleman, Naseem Akhter, Shahbaz Ali, Suleman James, and Abdul Aziz. Electronic devices recovered from them contained multiple pieces of evidence of financial fraud.
The suspects, posing as representatives of a foreign company, reportedly looted millions of rupees by promising returns on crypto and online investments. Investigations revealed that large sums of money were collected from victims through various bank accounts and mobile numbers. The suspects used fake WhatsApp numbers, international contacts, and advertisements to trap citizens. A case has been registered against the suspects under Sections 13, 14, and 16 of the PECA Act, and Sections 419, 420, 468, 471, and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
