Major Setback in Cyber Crime Agency: 77 Officers’ Contracts Terminated, Fears of Impact on Ongoing Cases

Islamabad: In a significant development at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), the services of 77 officers have been terminated following the expiration of their three-month extension contracts.
According to sources, this extension was granted through the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), which has now completed its term.
Official details reveal that the officers whose contracts have been ended include:
4 Deputy Directors
47 Assistant Directors
1 Office Superintendent
7 Technical Officers
18 Inspectors
These officers were serving in the technical, forensic, and investigation wings, mostly in grades 16 to 18, holding key positions in the agency’s operational structure.
Sources indicate that Assistant Director (Investigation) Asad Fakhruddin has been retained until the completion of an ongoing inquiry, but no further concessions have been given to the other officers.
Concerns Over Impact on Ongoing Cases
Internal sources have warned that the sudden departure of such a large number of trained officers could negatively affect ongoing cyber crime cases, pending applications, digital forensic analyses, and court proceedings.
In the context of rising cases of online fraud, harassment, data theft, and cyber exploitation across the country, this reduction in manpower could cause delays in the delivery of justice.
Summary Submitted for New Recruitments
Sources state that the Director General of NCCIA has submitted a PC-1 for the approval of 258 new positions to enhance the agency’s capacity.
However, efforts to regularize former contract officers or create permanent positions under existing rules have not been successful.
Observers note that new recruitments could provide a long-term solution, but the immediate shortage of experienced officers may prove to be a major administrative and operational challenge for the agency.