Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Lahore: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested 27 alleged members of the Oad gang during a major crackdown on organized financial cyber fraud in Lahore, Multan, and Faisalabad, exposing scams involving millions of rupees on Friday.

According to the spokesperson, the suspects allegedly posed as bank officials, customs and police personnel, representatives of charitable organizations, TCS riders and investment company employees to deceive citizens into sharing one-time passwords (OTPs), banking credentials and other sensitive information before fraudulently transferring funds from their accounts.

In Lahore, the NCCIA arrested 13 suspects during two separate operations. The arrested suspects included Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Danish, Nabeel Akhtar, Badrur Rehman, Muhammad Adnan, Nadeem Abbas, Allah Rakha, Muhammad Atif and Muhammad Waseem, among others. Authorities recovered 13 mobile phones, 25 active SIM cards allegedly used in the fraud and other digital evidence from their possession.

In Multan, 13 suspects were arrested in four separate raids. They included Muhammad Asim Baloch, Muhammad Usman, Khalid Baloch, Abdul Ghaffar, Muhammad Jibran Oad, Muhammad Shan Oad, Muhammad Waqas Oad, Muhammad Ilyas Oad, Muhammad Iqbal Oad, Muhammad Shafiq Oad, Muhammad Yousaf Oad, Muhammad Naeem Oad and other.

Initial investigations revealed that the Oad gang allegedly operated fake investment websites and fraudulent WhatsApp and social media accounts to lure citizens into investing money before defrauding them of large sums.

In Faisalabad, the NCCIA arrested one suspect, identified as Nasir Ali, who was allegedly involved with accomplices in hacking bank accounts and transferring stolen funds into fraudulent JazzCash and Easypaisa accounts. One Android mobile phone, six keypad phones and 23 active SIM cards were recovered from his possession.

The spokesperson said investigations into the network were underway and reaffirmed that indiscriminate action against organized financial cyber fraud groups, including the Oad gang, would continue.

The NCCIA also advised the public not to share one-time passwords (OTPs), banking information or personal data with any unauthorized person to avoid falling victim to cyber fraud.

Lahore: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ghulam Mohiuddin Dewan by 14 days in a case relating to alleged provocative speeches, arson and vandalism at Sherpao Bridge during the May 9 riots.

The accused was produced before the court from jail after the expiry of his previous judicial remand.

ATC Judge Malik Abid Hussain heard the case and approved a 14-day extension in the accused’s judicial remand.

The investigating officer informed the court that the supplementary challan is still being prepared. He stated that Dewan was present at the scene of the incident and is allegedly involved in delivering provocative speeches and participating in arson and vandalism at Sherpao Bridge.

Sarwar Road police had registered a case against the PTI leaders and workers on charges of provocative speeches, arson and vandalism at Sherpao Bridge during the May 9 riots.

Lahore: Punjab Home Department on Friday said that 139,902 illegally residing Afghan nationals had been repatriated from the province as part of the government’s ongoing drive against illegal foreign nationals.

According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department, the Foreign National Security Cell continued to coordinate and monitor the repatriation campaign across the province in line with the federal government’s policy.

The spokesperson said around 2.66 million Afghan nationals had so far been repatriated from Pakistan, including 139,902 from Punjab.

He said illegally residing Afghan nationals were being apprehended and shifted to holding centers, where temporary accommodation, registration, and documentation formalities were completed before their repatriation through the Torkham border crossing.

Currently, 39 holding centers are operational across the province, where 284 Afghan nationals are being housed. They will be repatriated after the completion of the required procedures, the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson said that, under the government’s policy, the stay of Afghan nationals in Pakistan without a valid visa was illegal. He added that inspections had been carried out in residential areas and markets across the province as part of the ongoing crackdown.

He urged citizens to report the illegal stay of Afghan nationals, identity fraud or any suspicious activity by calling the Police Emergency Helpline 15, assuring that the identity of informants would be kept confidential.

The spokesperson clarified that the ongoing action was being taken only against illegally residing foreign nationals, while the Punjab Home Department’s Foreign National Security Cell continued to oversee and coordinate the repatriation process across the province.