MULTAN / MUZAFFARGARH — The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Multan Zone has dismantled a gang specialized in defrauding vulnerable women beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). In a series of coordinated raids on Thursday, January 29, 2026, officials arrested five suspects who were allegedly extorting illegal “commissions” from the poorest segments of society.
The Tactic: “The 1,500 Rupee Cut”
According to the FIA spokesperson, the suspects operated by intercepting deserving women at payment centers and ATMs in Muzaffargarh and Kot Addu.
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The Fraud: The gang would unlawfully deduct between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 from the quarterly stipend of each beneficiary, claiming it was a mandatory “service fee” or “commission” for processing their payments.
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The Victims: Dozens of women, many from rural backgrounds who were unaware of the program’s full-payment policy, were reportedly scammed over several months.
Big Breaking: A top bureaucrat named in a big Europe visa scam days after a major visa scam unearthed by the US Embassy in Pakistan. An FBR officer minted millions by getting French Visas exploiting his government position. Who is this powerful civil servant? The FIA teams look… pic.twitter.com/9pz2gN4321
— Zahid Gishkori (@ZahidGishkori) January 25, 2026
The Suspects & Evidence
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
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Zahid Abbas
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Muhammad Shakeel
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Shakeel Hussain
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Khalid Hussain
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Muhammad Kamil
Recovered Items: During the raids, FIA teams seized a significant amount of incriminating material, including:
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Multiple Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) belonging to various women.
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Detailed registers tracking “collection” amounts.
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Several Bank Connect devices and mobile phones used to manipulate transactions.
A Nationwide Crackdown
The arrests in Multan are part of a broader, intensified campaign by BISP and the FIA to protect the integrity of social safety nets.
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Device Blockage: Earlier this week, the Director General of BISP ordered the immediate shutdown of 139 suspicious payment devices across the country found violating standard operating procedures.
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Biometric Security: To combat such fraud, BISP is transitioning toward a Digital Wallet System and ensuring all HBL ATMs in the region are 24/7 biometrically enabled, allowing women to bypass potentially corrupt middle-men or POS agents. You May Also Like:https://aamawaam.com/mqm-p-federal-takeover-karachi-gul-plaza-tragedy/
Advice for BISP Beneficiaries
The district administration and FIA have issued a public service message for all registered families:
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Full Payment: Beneficiaries are entitled to their entire stipend amount. No agent or official is authorized to take a “commission.”
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Complaints: Report any illegal deduction immediately to the BISP helpline at 8171 or the nearest FIA Cyber Crime Circle.
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Official Outlets: Always use authorized biometric ATMs or designated bank branches for cash withdrawals
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