The gambling app–promotion controversy surrounding Pakistan’s known YouTuber Saad-ur-Rehman alias Ducky Bhai and his wife Aroob Jatoi has taken an explosive turn.
It involves reports and accusations of mysterious disappearances of government officials, alleged promotion of digital scams, and the uncovering of a corruption network within Pakistan’s top cybercrime watchdog operating under the Interior Division.
The shocking reports circulating in media have prompted the government to take action, replacing the director general of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on Tuesday.
According to notifications issued by the Cabinet Secretariat’s Establishment Division, Syed Khurram Ali, a BS-21 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan, has been appointed as the new NCCIA Director General with immediate effect, replacing Waqaruddin Syed. The notification directed Waqaruddin to report to the Establishment Division immediately.
NCCIA:
National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) arrested Ducky Bahi in August this year in promotion of illegal gambling apps and fraud case. Currently in a jail in Lahore, he is awaiting trial. His wife Aroob is on interim bail.
However, on Monday, she filed a complaint against nine members of the NCCIA, accusing them of operating a coordinated bribery and extortion scheme within Pakistan’s leading cyber watchdog. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) took action on Jatoi’s application and registered the Fist Information Report (FIR).
FIR:
FIA has registered FIR against these nine NCCIA officials: Lahore NCCIA’s Additional Director Sarfraz Chaudhry, Lahore NCCIA Deputy Director (acting in-charge) Zawar Ahmad. Lahore NCCIA Sub-Inspector Ali Raza, Lahore NCCIA Assistant Director Shoaib Riaz. Lahore NCCIA Sub-Inspector Yasir Ramzan and Lahore NCCIA Assistant Director Mujtaba Zafar. Islamabad NCCIA’s officer Muhammad Usman, Islamabad NCCIA Deputy Director Ayaz Khan and a person named Salman Aziz.
Aroob Jatoi Accusations:
She accused that NCCIA personnel took Rs9 million bribes from her in order to drop charges against her husband. Reports claim the cybercrime agency runs a “network of corruption.”
FIR charged NCCIA’s Assistant Director Shoaib Riaz for receiving the money through middlemen. The official, as per FIR, promised “relief” and a “favourable legal procedure” in Ducky Bhai case. According to the FIR, senior NCCIA officers, including Deputy Director Zawar Ahmad, Additional Director Sarfraz Chaudhry and other sub-inspectors divided the funds.
The scam, according to investigators, involves far more than just one bribe. The accused policemen ran a monthly protection racket. “They steal money from fraudulent call centres, illegal web operators and digital scammers. The NCCIA’s officials then send a portion of the bribery to higher-ups in Islamabad.”
The most shocking revelation, as per FIR: Shoaib Riaz allegedly moved $326,420 from Ducky Bhai’s Binance account to his own. “The network of officials takes advantage of Pakistan’s cyber laws, alter evidence, and seize digital assets.”
Another interesting Turn:
Deputy Director Muhammad Usman, one of the accused in the FIR, mysteriously disappeared earlier this month. His wife, Rozina Usman, filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court. She claimed her husband was abducted by four armed men on October 14. Rozina herself reportedly went missing soon after filing the case. The court has ordered a high-level probe.
Arrest and Remand:
FIA has confirmed the arrest of the six accused in FIR— Sarfraz, Zawar, Shoaib, Mujtaba Zafar, Ali Raza, and Yasir Ramzan. On Tuesday, the accused officers were brought to a Lahore court. Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo granted the FIA a three-day physical remand for interrogation.
Defence lawyer Barrister Mian Ali Ashfaq argued that the arrests violated procedural rules and constitutional protections. He said his clients were being made scapegoats in a politically charged case.
The FIA, on the other side, claims its investigation is based on “solid digital evidence, including money trails, chat records and cryptocurrency transactions.
