SAHIWAL: On information by the cyber crime wing, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) with the Farid Town police arrested on Wednesday three people in village 93/6-R who were running an illegal gateway exchange/voice over internet protocol in a house.

They were booked on the complaint of FIA Sub-Inspector Ashir Aroon under sections 13 and 14 of PECA-2016, 31 (1) of the PTRO Act-1996, and 419, 420 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Suspects caused huge losses to the national exchequers by diverting international lines and internet facilities to illegal gateways.

The arrested people are Umair Farooq, of Chak 93/6-3, Moin Ilyas, of Arifwala, and Muhammad Shafiq, of Sahiwal. The police confiscated two gateway exchange gadgets, SIMs of different cellular companies, one laptop, TP link routers, and few internet devices.

Suspects said they set up the illegal gateway with the help of Ali, of Multan. Investigations are ongoing.

SUSPENDED: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abrar Ahmed Khalil suspended from service constable Muhammad Tahir for misconduct on Tuesday.

The special branch constable was visiting a matric examination centre at the Government Girls’ Pilot Higher Secondary School illegally. He demanded favour for a few candidates.

Dr Fida, controller of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Sahiwal, said the matter was reported to him by board mobile inspector Prof Ateeq Kamboh and the board would take action after the submission of inspector’s report.

Female invigilators said constable Tahir visited the examination centre in the past week several times.

He would introduce himself as special branch ASI and told the staff that he was appointed on the instructions of senior officials to check the centre. He also harassed the female invigilators. His constant interference forced candidates and invigilators to launch complaints against the constable.

Mr Kamboh said during his visit to centre, he grilled Tahir about his presence at the centre, upon which the constable threatened him with consequences.

Taking action on the complaints, the SSP got the issue investigated and later suspended Tahir from service on misconduct.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2019