FIA Balochistan investigating 300 cybercrime cases
Syed Ali Shah :
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Balochistan was currently investigating around 300 cybercrime cases in the province. Like in other parts of the globe, Balochistan has also witnessed a sharp rise in the number of cybercrime cases recently. The mushroom growth of information technology has changed the nature of harassment and crime globally.
“We have meager resources to deal with increasing cases”, an official of the agency told Quetta Voice. The nature of the cases includes online harassment on social media, anti-government, identity theft, financial frauds, hacking, defamations, etc.
More cases of cybercrime were reported in Quetta
“More cases of cybercrime reported from Quetta”, the official said. Lack of awareness about cybercrime law has been evident in rural parts of Balochistan. “Awareness is important and it is good in terms of prevention of crime”, the FIA official mentioned.
The Cybercrime wing of the FIA Balochistan has stepped up efforts to apprehend the culprits involved in child pornography. A court in Quetta convicted two accused involved in a child pornography case from Balochistan’s Musakhail district.
“I have seen, educated people are unaware about cybercrime laws”, Asif Reki Advocate, a senior lawyer in Quetta said. He said the government should launch an awareness campaign with regard to cybercrime and laws.
2020 witnesses a record hike in cybercrime complaints
The year 2020 witnessed a record hike in the number of complaints regarding cybercrime cases across Pakistan. “The FIA disposed of 1,00,000 complaints about cybercrime”, sources in the agency told Quetta Voice. Cases of cybercrime appear to be on a constant rise after the increasing dependency of human beings on information technology globally.
Reporting increased almost 5 times as compared to the previous year. The agency disposed of 1,00,000 complaints till the end of 2020. The complaints lodged at the Cybercrime Wing of FIA related to financial fraud, harassment, stalking, and unauthorized access, they mentioned. The exact number of complaints lodged with the Wing was recorded 94, 227 across the country.
