Secret IT setup at FESCO ex-chief's dera busted, foreigners detained

Over a report of an IT-based scam, law enforcement agencies on Tuesday arrested several foreign and local workers and seized digital equipment from a camp office of the former chairman of the FESCO Board of Directors, Malik Tehseen Awan, in Faisalabad.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, in a dramatic operation, personnel from different agencies, including the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Elite Force, carried out a major raid on the dera (camp office at a private compound) of former FESCO Board of Directors Chairman, Tahseen Awan, in Faisalabad.

The FIA sources told the media that the raid led to the arrest of several foreign and local workers and the seizure of a large cache of digital equipment.

FIA sources said the operation uncovered an illegal exchange setup, and 18 computers were taken into custody from the premises.

The raiding team reportedly intercepted a sophisticated IT system being used for large-scale financial fraud.

Initial investigations revealed that the arrested foreign nationals had been brought into Pakistan four months ago. Authorities believe the group was using various apps and digital platforms to orchestrate a billion-rupee fraud scheme.

Intelligence agencies had received tip-offs regarding suspicious digital activities linked to the premises, prompting the high-level joint action.

Further investigations are ongoing, and officials are working to trace the full extent of the network and any potential international connections involved in the scam.

It is pertinent to mention here that Malik Tehseen Awan is a popular and influential figure of the area and contested an election in 2018 for the provincial seat PP-98 from Faisalabad.

Reporter: Tayyab Maqbool