The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights on Tuesday directed authorities to set clear timelines for processing cybercrime and financial fraud complaints and to keep victims regularly informed about their cases.
Chaired by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, the meeting reviewed cryptocurrency-related fraud, offences committed through social media, exploitation of students, protection of children from inappropriate online content and the abduction of Pakistani seafarers. Senators Quratul Ain Marri, Sher Abid Ali, Masroor Ahsan and other members sought explanations from the relevant authorities.
The committee discussed delays in complaint registration and investigations, fraudulent calls, misuse of WhatsApp accounts and personal identification information, suspicious bank accounts, illegal use of SIM cards and recovery of lost funds. Senator Samina called for practical measures to help victims recover their money.
The committee was informed that suspicious accounts were frozen in certain cases, while recovered funds were returned in line with court orders and legal requirements. The chairperson said investigation outcomes, recoveries and legal proceedings against accused persons should be presented through clear and verifiable statistics to allow an assessment of institutional performance.
The committee also emphasised the need for awareness campaigns in educational institutions. Senator Samina directed the authorities to organise programmes in universities and colleges and to use social media to educate students about fraudulent investment schemes, phishing, suspicious links and protection of personal information.
On obscene and inappropriate content available to children on social media, the chairperson said advising parents to take precautions was not sufficient. She said the authorities must identify objectionable content, block it in a timely manner and act on complaints. She also urged them to strengthen coordination with social media platforms and submit details of the action taken to the committee.
Director Shipping Wing Arif Haroon briefed the committee on the hostage-taking of Pakistani seafarers off the coast of Somalia. The chairperson sought explanations on the delay in the crew’s release, repatriation of a deceased seafarer’s body, financial assistance for affected families and medical treatment for injured crew members. The committee was informed that the ship owner, the manning agency and parties linked to Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance were discussing compensation payments.
Senator Quratul Ain Marri sought details of government assistance for the families of deceased seafarers. The chairperson directed the authorities to provide a complete record of crew salaries, medical treatment and financial payments from April to September. She also asked them to verify reports about the prime minister’s announcement of financial assistance and inform the committee.
The committee reviewed cases involving money collected from citizens on the pretext of overseas education, study visas and employment. It was informed that around Rs5 million was recovered in one case.
The chairperson stressed the need to verify the legal status of companies and consultancy firms operating in these fields and called for legal action against those involved in such fraud and their facilitators. Citizens were advised to verify the credentials of such organisations before making payments.
The committee expressed serious concern over the absence of representatives of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Senator Samina directed both institutions to attend the next meeting with a briefing, relevant records and details of the measures taken within their mandates.
The committee also took up the case of Laiba Ijaz, a gold-medalist graduate of the International Islamic University Islamabad, whose death was reportedly linked to an alleged fraud involving fake admission documents for higher education in the United States. An Islamabad Police officer of SP rank briefed the committee on the circumstances of her death and the progress of the investigation.
The chairperson stressed the need for a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into the alleged fraud and the role of everyone involved. She said cases of fraudulent overseas education and visa consultancy require coordination among the police, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the HEC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.