FIA's progress on 'dark web' cases declared 'unsatisfactory'

ISLAMABAD: Senator Rubina Khalid said that only 15 investigators were present in the cyber crime wing of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), ARY News reported.

Rubina Khalid chaired a session of Senate’s Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication here on Monday in Islamabad.

The senator said that the FIA cybercrime cell was comprised of 114 persons, whereas, only 15 cyber investigators were presented in the intel agency.

Ms Khalid added that 28,000 inquiries were currently pending in the cell.

She said, “The progress [of the cell] on cases pertains to the Dark Web is unsatisfactory.” The senator said that the standing committee had already forwarded its recommendations regarding the cyber crime cell.

The chairperson directed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to present report on implementation of the committee’s recommendations in next session.

On April 11, a major hacking scandal which is said to be biggest in Pakistan had unearthed as the stolen data of various female students of Punjab University (PU) was sold out on ‘Dark Web’.

The latest revelations raised eyebrows of many regarding measures taken by cybersecurity units working across the country to curb such criminal activities on world wide web.

Sources said that stolen data of the varsity’s female students, including phone numbers, photos and videos, was being traded to Dark Web users.

However, further details regarding the number of individuals whose data was stolen and major sources of information collection sniped by hackers are yet to be known.

The FIA cyber crimes’ circle had also initiated a thorough investigation into the matter.