Islamabad Raid: FIA Cracks Down on Scam, Looters Strike
- International Affairs Pakistan South Asia South China Sea
Shreya Naskar- 0
- 3 minutes read
Islamabad’s Sector F-11 witnessed unexpected chaos following a raid conducted by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on a fake call centre. The operation, initially aimed at dismantling an illegal enterprise, quickly spiralled out of control, leading to widespread looting by local citizens. The incident has raised serious concerns about law enforcement efficiency and public order in the country. The FIA’s Cybercrime Cell, in coordination with intelligence agencies, carried out the raid on what was identified as a Chinese-operated fake call centre. Reports indicate that the centre was engaged in illegal operations, employing Pakistani citizens for fraudulent activities. Authorities had been aware of the centre’s existence for some time but were awaiting official orders from higher-ups before launching the operation. Upon receiving clearance, FIA teams stormed the premises, detaining over two dozen individuals, including both Pakistani and foreign nationals allegedly involved in illicit activities. This was a major crackdown on cyber fraud operations that had been under surveillance for an extended period.
What should have been a standard law enforcement operation soon descended into mayhem. According to the local newspaper The Nation, once the raid was in progress, numerous Pakistani citizens took advantage of the situation, breaking into the call centre and looting valuable electronic equipment. Reports suggest that items stolen included laptops, monitors, keyboards, and other office equipment, all meant to be confiscated for investigative purposes. Despite the presence of security personnel and FIA officials, the growing crowd outside the call centre quickly turned the situation into an uncontrollable frenzy. The sheer number of people involved made it impossible for authorities to prevent the looting. Tracking the chaotic raid, the FIA successfully transported the detained individuals to their offices for further questioning. However, officials have remained tight-lipped about the broader scope of the investigation, refusing to disclose additional details despite growing inquiries from journalists and the public. This secrecy has fueled speculation regarding the extent of the criminal activities being run from the call centre. Some sources suggest that the operation might have links to larger international cyber fraud networks. However, without official confirmation, these remain unverified claims.
The FIA is now facing severe criticism for its inability to control the situation and prevent public looting. Many question the agency’s preparedness and the apparent lack of security measures during such a high-profile raid. Critics argue that if the FIA had anticipated public interference, they should have ensured tighter security and crowd control measures. Additionally, concerns have been raised about how long the FIA was aware of this illegal operation before taking action. Some believe that delays in the raid may have allowed critical evidence to be destroyed or smuggled out before law enforcement intervened. The raid on the fake call centre in Islamabad’s Sector F-11 was meant to be a significant step against cyber fraud but instead turned into a major embarrassment for Pakistani law enforcement. The inability of authorities to prevent large-scale looting has exposed critical flaws in the system, calling for urgent reforms in crisis management and public security measures. As investigations continue, the FIA must work to restore public confidence and ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.