Pakistan cybercrime complaints top 77,000 in 2026

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 20 May 2026 |  JP Staff Report

NCCIA logged 77,023 cybercrime complaints in the first five months of 2026; 58,286 were verified leading to 8,048 inquiries, 457 registered cases, 520 arrests and only eight convictions amid 25 acquittals. The agency was restructured and given new forensic labs.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s National Assembly was informed that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) received 77,023 cybercrime complaints during the first five months of 2026, resulting in 457 registered cases, 520 arrests, and only eight convictions, highlighting continuing challenges in cybercrime prosecution and digital law enforcement.

Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Senator Mohsin Naqvi shared the figures while responding to a question from Member of the National Assembly James Iqbal about measures being taken to strengthen law enforcement agencies against rising cybercrime threats. According to the minister, 58,286 complaints were verified, leading to 8,048 formal inquiries during the period.

Cybercrime enforcement under scrutiny

The minister also disclosed that courts recorded 25 acquittals in cybercrime-related cases during 2026, underscoring concerns about weak prosecution outcomes despite growing enforcement activity. The NCCIA, established in May 2024, replaced the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cyber Crime Wing and now operates independently under the Ministry of Interior.

Naqvi told lawmakers the agency had undergone what he described as a major institutional overhaul, giving it expanded authority to investigate and prosecute cybercrime cases. He said the NCCIA had been equipped with modern digital forensic laboratories designed to handle encrypted communications, social media-related offences, and online financial fraud investigations.

The data presented in parliament showed that cybercrime complaints remain consistently high in Pakistan. The government recorded 161,828 complaints in 2024, 157,465 in 2025, and 134,710 in 2023. While complaint volumes fluctuated, the number of registered cases rose sharply in 2025, reaching 2,256 cases compared to 1,667 in 2024 and 1,375 in 2023.

PECA amendments draw criticism

The minister said the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 was amended in 2025 to address emerging digital threats, including deepfakes and large-scale misinformation campaigns. The amendments also established the Social Media Protection Regulatory Authority and introduced specialized Social Media Protection Tribunals comprising legal, technical, and media experts.

Naqvi said the changes aimed to strengthen technical adjudication and improve enforcement capacity in digital cases. He also referred to the introduction of Section 26-A, which criminalizes the deliberate spread of false information causing public panic, carrying penalties of up to three years in prison.

However, the amendments have faced sustained criticism from journalists, civil society groups, and opposition parties, who argue that the provisions could be used to suppress dissent and restrict freedom of expression. Media organizations and digital rights advocates have repeatedly raised concerns over vague definitions surrounding misinformation and the broader implications for online speech and independent journalism.

The latest figures presented in parliament reflect the growing scale of Pakistan’s cybercrime landscape at a time when authorities are expanding digital surveillance, online regulation, and enforcement powers amid increasing political and social tensions online.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The figures highlight the widening gap between cybercrime complaints, prosecutions, and convictions in Pakistan, raising important questions about investigative standards, digital evidence handling, and judicial capacity. For journalists and media organizations, the expansion of PECA-related powers and misinformation laws carries significant implications for online reporting, newsroom digital security, and freedom of expression in an increasingly regulated digital environment.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan, based on publicly available statements made in Pakistan’s National Assembly on May 18, 2026, and official remarks by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reported by parliamentary proceedings.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.