The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has busted an illegal mobile SIM card franchise involved in a massive identity fraud scheme in Lahore’s Shad Bagh area. Thousands of digital fingerprints, allegedly sold by corrupt employees of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), have been recovered.
In a raid conducted on Rajput Road, FIA arrested five individuals, including the franchise owner. Authorities seized data containing 11,000 digital fingerprints, which had been used to activate fraudulent SIM cards. A case (No. 34/2025) has been registered on the complaint of the Zonal Director of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
Additional Director Chaudhry Sarfraz revealed that the stolen fingerprints—totaling 110,000 individual records—were illegally obtained and sold, facilitating large-scale cyber and financial crimes.
During the operation, FIA recovered:
- Five BVS (Biometric Verification System) devices
- 1,500 paper-based fingerprints
- A laptop and a scanner
The stolen data included identity card details of citizens from Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. PTA is now conducting a technical analysis of the seized equipment to assess the full extent of the fraud.
Authorities have vowed strict action against those involved in this illegal biometric trade, which poses a serious threat to national security. Investigations are ongoing to trace further links to the scandal.
