During a delicate investigation, a cybercrime officer in Pakistan vanishes.
The unexplained disappearance of a senior officer from Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency has alarmed law enforcement and sparked conjecture that his disappearance might be connected to a sensitive case that is still pending.
After attending Friday prayers last week, Sub-Inspector Sarim Khan, who was assigned to the agency’s Rawalpindi division, reportedly disappeared.According to colleagues, he never came back to work and hasn’t communicated with his family since.Given Khan’s responsibility for keeping an eye on anti-state social media activity during Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations, authorities are treating the case as a “high priority.”
Internal sources claim that Khan had been looking into a group of internet accounts that were allegedly disseminating misinformation and inflammatory material directed at state institutions. Authorities worry that hostile actors trying to thwart or retaliate against ongoing investigations may be linked to his disappearance.
To find out where he is, law enforcement and local police have started a joint operation. Intelligence teams are keeping an eye on online chatter for potential leads, and security footage from neighboring mosques and checkpoints is being examined.
On condition of anonymity, a senior agency source stated, “This is not just about one officer.” “It indicates a direct attack on Pakistan’s ability to defend its digital frontlines if cybercrime investigators themselves are being targeted.”
On social media, the incident has raised concerns from the public, with many calling for search transparency and raising concerns about the safety of officers handling politically delicate cases.Cybersecurity experts point out that such disappearances are especially concerning given Pakistan’s increasing reliance on digital policing.
Officer Khan’s whereabouts are still unknown as the search continues.In an increasingly unstable political and digital environment, his disappearance serves as a terrifying reminder of the dangers faced by those battling cybercrime.
