By Asif Naveed
ISLAMABAD: The mystery surrounding the disappearance of National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Deputy Director Muhammad Usman has taken a new turn, as it was revealed that he is in the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on charges of abuse of authority and extortion.
According to official records, Muhammad Usman — reported missing from Islamabad earlier this month — was remanded to FIA’s physical custody for three days by Lahore Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo on October 29. The magistrate also directed the FIA to produce him before the district court on Saturday.
The FIA’s investigating officer informed the court that Usman was arrested in connection with a case involving NCCIA officials accused of extorting money and misusing their powers. The complaint was filed by Aroob Jatoi, wife of YouTuber Saadur Rehman, known online as Ducky Bhai, who was recently detained for promoting gambling apps on social media.
Apart from Usman, several NCCIA officers — including Deputy Director Ayaz Khan, Inspector Salman Aziz, and officials from Lahore and Islamabad — were also named in the case.
The FIR was registered under Sections 109 and 161 of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with Section 5(2)47 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, alleging criminal misconduct by public officials.
The report claimed that Assistant Director Shoaib Riaz misused his position to extort Rs9 million from Rehman’s family through intermediaries, promising leniency and judicial relief. The extorted money was allegedly distributed among NCCIA officers in Lahore and Islamabad, with monthly kickbacks reportedly sent to senior officials.
The FIA said the suspects were part of an organized network involved in systematic bribery, facilitating online fraud operations, and transferring illicit funds abroad. The investigation has now been assigned to the FIA Lahore Anti-Corruption Circle Assistant Director Syed Zainul Abideen.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court, which had earlier ordered the police to trace Usman following a petition filed by his wife, was not informed of his detention by the FIA — raising concerns about procedural transparency.
