What the Senate panel ordered
Pakistan’s Senate human rights functional committee on Tuesday told enforcement bodies to publish cybercrime complaint timelines and fixed windows for financial-fraud files, and to tell complainants how their cases are moving. The sitting was led by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri. Senators Quratul Ain Marri, Sher Abid Ali, Masroor Ahsan and other members asked agencies to explain slow registration and weak follow-up.
Discussion covered digital-currency cheating, harm done through social platforms, risks to students, shielding children from harmful online material, and the hostage ordeal of Pakistani seafarers near Somalia. Lawmakers also flagged fake calls, hijacked WhatsApp profiles, stolen personal identity data, dubious bank accounts and illegal SIM use, plus how lost money can be returned.
Crypto scams, recoveries and campus warnings
Officials said some suspect accounts had been blocked and that money already seized was paid back only where courts and the law allowed. Senator Samina asked for plain, checkable figures on probe results, sums returned and cases filed against accused people so the public can judge how agencies are performing.
She urged practical help so victims can reclaim funds and told departments to run campus sessions in universities and colleges, using social channels as well, on fake investment pitches, phishing, risky links and guarding personal data. On material harmful to children, she said telling parents to be careful is not enough: agencies must find and remove such posts promptly, act on reports, work more closely with platforms and send the committee a record of steps taken.
Members also heard about ransomware, fake investment pitches and misuse of personal data. On schemes that collect fees for foreign study, visas or jobs, the panel was told roughly Rs5 million had been retrieved in one matter. The chair called for checks on whether consultancies in that field are lawful, for action against facilitators, and for citizens to confirm credentials before paying.
Seafarers, Laiba Ijaz case and missing briefings
Director Shipping Wing Arif Haroon outlined the seizure of Pakistani crew off Somalia. The chair asked why release had lagged, how a deceased sailor’s remains would be brought home, what support families received and what care injured crew got. Officials said the ship owner, the manning firm and Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance parties—cover linked to maritime liability—were talking about compensation. Senator Marri wanted a full account of state help for families of those who died. The chair ordered salary, treatment and payment records from April through September and asked that claims of prime-ministerial relief be verified for the committee.
The panel also heard the matter of Laiba Ijaz, a gold-medallist graduate of the International Islamic University Islamabad, whose death has been tied in reports to alleged cheating over forged US admission papers. An Islamabad Police officer of SP rank described the circumstances and the inquiry’s status. Senator Samina insisted on a full, open and fair probe and said police, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA)—the federal cybercrime body—the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must work together on foreign-study and visa fraud.
Members objected that HEC and Foreign Ministry officers were absent and ordered both to come to the next sitting with briefings, files and a note of work done in their remits.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Senate ki human rights committee ne kaha ke cybercrime aur paise ki fraud ki complaints ka saaf time frame ho. Jo log shikayat karte hain unhein case ki progress batayi jaye. Crypto aur education ke scams par action aur campus awareness bhi maangi gayi. Aam shehriyon ke liye matlab yeh hai ke complaint process clear ho aur paisa wapas milne ke chances behtar ho sakte hain.
