Islamabad Court Orders Salary Release For Nccia Officers Dispute

On February 24, 2026, the Islamabad High Court ordered the immediate release of withheld salaries for 43 officers of the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA), emphasizing that the government must not take adverse actions against these officers while their employment status remains unresolved. This ruling comes amidst ongoing challenges within Pakistan's cybercrime agency, which is grappling with the regularization of contract employees. The court's decision reflects the precarious nature of employment in emerging sectors like cybercrime investigation, as the officers argue their terminations violate the FIA Act, 1974, and previous court judgments. Meanwhile, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly has expressed serious dissatisfaction with the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) for its failure to recover Rs. 27.85 million in outstanding public funds, with the auditor general's office revealing that NBP had not managed to reclaim Rs. 85 from one of its executive vice presidents over the past four years. PAC members have mandated NBP President Rehmat Ali Hasnie to initiate a recovery lawsuit and present a compliance report within two weeks, highlighting the urgent need for accountability in public financial management. The committee also raised concerns about the FIA's lack of awareness regarding significant financial irregularities, further underscoring the pressing need for reform in both the financial and cybercrime sectors in Pakistan.