A serious case of corruption and abuse of power has come to light in Multan. According to a First Information Report (FIR) filed on June 1, 2025, Muhammad Rafiq, a resident of Okara, reported that on the night of May 31, 2025, his brother Muhammad Shafiq was apprehended by Asad Fakhar-ud-Din, Assistant Director of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Multan, from KFC Bypass Okara and was taken to Multan.
In a desperate attempt to secure his brother’s release, Rafiq approached Hassan Shah, Assistant Director Legal at the FIA Composite Circle Multan. Hassan Shah initially promised to look into the matter but soon called Rafiq back, demanding Rs. 10 million as an illegal bribe for Shafiq’s release.
The situation quickly escalated when Hafiz Ali Shan, a friend of Shafiq, also visited the NCCIA office to inquire about his friend but was similarly arrested. Asad Fakhar-ud-Din allegedly demanded Rs. 1 million for Ali Shan’s release. Muhammad Rafiq, with the help of his cousin Roshan Latif and Amjad Latif, arranged Rs. 7 million which was paid to Hassan Shah at his residence in the presence of a witness, Haider Shah. The remaining Rs. 3 million was also arranged and handed over on the same day.
Following this payment, Rafiq and Hassan Shah went to the NCCIA office, where the total bribe was given to Asad Fakhar-ud-Din and another official, Zafar, an ASI at NCCIA Multan. However, instead of releasing the detainees, the officials demanded an additional Rs. 10 million and began torturing Shafiq. To meet these new demands, Rafiq tried to sell his silver Suzuki Swift (AUG-105). The car was sold through Abdul Hanan, a friend of Hassan Shah, to Imran Manzoor at the Multan Auto City Car Showroom.
An advance of Rs. 500,000 was paid, of which Rs. 400,000 was handed to Rafiq and Rs. 100,000 was kept by Hassan Shah and Abdul Hanan. The remaining Rs. 3.92 million from the sale was due the next day.
Alarmed by these ongoing extortion attempts, Rafiq requested legal action against those involved. Based on the evidence provided, a case was registered under sections 161, 162, 163, 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with section 5(2)47 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Those named in the FIR include Asad Fakhar-ud-Din, Assistant Director NCCIA Multan; Zafar ASI, NCCIA Multan; Hassan Shah, Assistant Director Legal FIA Composite Circle Multan; and Abdul Hanan, a private individual.
The FIR notes that further investigation will identify the roles of other individuals involved in this case of alleged bribery and extortion. The investigation is being conducted by Inspector Qaisar Iqbal of the FIA Multan, who has confirmed that legal action has been initiated against the suspects.
In a related development, Director General FIA Raja Rifat Mukhtiar took note of these serious allegations and directed the arrest of the principal accused and their accomplices. The FIA Multan Zone also apprehended a close associate involved in this corruption scheme, while two other assistants managed to flee. The case underlines the grave nature of corruption within certain quarters and the determined efforts of law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice.
