Updated March 17th 2025, 18:38 IST
Islamabad: Chaos erupted in Sector F-11 of Islamabad after a raid by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and intelligence agencies on a scam call center, leading to locals looting the premises. Several videos circulating on social media showed mobs of young men storming the building, stealing technical equipment, and raising concerns about the authorities’ handling of the operation.
According to a report by The Nation, the FIA’s Cybercrime Cell led the operation on Saturday, March 15, targeting a call center involved in international fraud. During the raid, more than 24 individuals, including foreign nationals from a friendly country, were detained. However, some suspects managed to escape during the operation.
Sources within the FIA revealed that the agency had been aware of the illegal activities at the call center for some time. However, they waited for approval from senior officials before taking action. The scam center reportedly hired Pakistani workers to defraud victims in multiple countries through fraudulent schemes.
Despite the FIA’s success in detaining suspects, the raid descended into disorder. Poor security management allowed locals to break into the premises and steal valuable equipment, which should have been secured as evidence.
Videos circulating on social media showed people carrying away stolen hardware, while a large crowd gathered outside the center. Some foreigners were also seen fleeing the scene, further complicating the investigation.
The arrested individuals were transferred to the FIA office for further questioning. FIA officials confirmed the involvement of foreign nationals in the illegal operation but declined to provide additional details.
Despite multiple attempts to gather more information, the FIA has not yet responded to further inquiries about the incident. The authorities are now under pressure to explain the security lapses that led to the looting of key evidence.
Published March 17th 2025, 18:38 IST