Islamabad witnessed chaotic scenes on Saturday as locals stormed a suspected scam centre and looted electronic equipment after a raid by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and intelligence agencies in Sector F-11.
A social media user posted one such video on X, writing, “Pakistanis have looted a call centre operated by Chinese in Islamabad…laptops, TV & other items all looted.”
Pakistanis have looted the Chinese Call centres in Islamabad….laptops, TV & other items all looted 😂
Note: This happened in holy month of Ramzan. pic.twitter.com/dlb2vKOKPh
— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) March 17, 2025
Several comments poured in as the post went viral. Here are some of them:
“Baatao Inko bolo jo yeh le ja rahe hai woh chalega nahi (Someone tell them the stuff they are taking won’t work),” a user quipped.
Baatao
Inko bolo jo yeh le ja rahe hai woh chalega nahi
— Bhaskar Majumdar (@Probasibangali) March 18, 2025
“China & Pakistan really deserve each other,” another sarcastically wrote.
China & Pakistan really deserve each other.
— Rajesh (@RajeshBhaarati) March 17, 2025
“Imagine going home with all these items in hand and your mom asks you from where you got all these,” a netizen wrote.
Imagine going home with all these items in hand and your mom asks you from where you got all these.
— V¹ (@notoktobeok) March 18, 2025
Bringing up Pakistan’s recent ICC Champions Trophy performance, a user remarked, “Making up for the losses in TV after Champions trophy”
Making up for the losses in TV after Champions trophy
— ShyamM (@Barracudaace) March 17, 2025
Over 2 Dozen People Detained, Several Foreigners Escape Amid Chaotic Islamabad Call Centre Raid
The FIA’s Cybercrime Cell led the operation, detaining over two dozen individuals, including foreigners from a “friendly country”, Pakistan-based The National reported. The call centre was allegedly involved in international fraud, using Pakistani employees to scam people in various countries. According to FIA sources cited by The National’s report, authorities had been tracking the illegal activities for some time but waited for approval from higher officials before taking action.
However, the raid soon spiralled out of control as videos surfaced on social media showing residents grabbing laptops, desktops, monitors, keyboards, and other equipment. Some individuals even took away furniture and cutlery. A large crowd gathered outside the premises, with some people seen making off with the stolen items.
As per the report, sources said that several foreigners managed to escape during the chaos. The detained individuals were shifted to the FIA office for interrogation. When contacted, FIA officials confirmed the involvement of foreigners in the illegal activity.
The incident echoes a similar case from September last year when eight armed men posing as FIA officials raided a call centre in Islamabad, looted 130 laptops and furniture, and abducted an employee, Dawn reported.
