KARACHI: Nine suspects arrested by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in a raid on a call centre on Sharea Faisal were granted bail in a case related to the credit card data theft.

On Nov 4, the NCCIA claimed to have arrested 273 suspects, including women and juveniles, in connection with an ongoing inquiry into an alleged international financial fraud network.

However, a magistrate had granted bail to 264 suspects and the remaining nine suspects were handed over to the NCCIA for further questioning.

After the end of their second physical remand, the investigating officer produced the nine suspects before the magistrate and sought further extension for their physical remand, arguing that their custody was required to arrest their accomplices.

On the other hand, defence counsel Shahab Sarki and Jam Khizer Jan, representing the suspects, opposed the extension of their physical remand and sought their release on bail, arguing that no specific roles had been assigned to them in the FIR.

The defence also contended that the FIR was a “mere fishing exercise” and that the case was not maintainable as the raid had been conducted without obtaining the permission required under Section 33 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.

After hearing arguments, the court granted them bail against surety of Rs200,000 each.

In its order, the court directed the jail authorities to release them if they were not required in any other case.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2026