Islamabad, Mar 27, 2025: Armaghan Qureshi, the main suspect in the Mustafa Amir homicide case, orchestrated large-scale phishing scams through his unauthorized call center, accumulating an illicit fortune of Rs17 billion over three years, as revealed by officials during a National Assembly committee session on Wednesday.
The second gathering of the Sub-Committee of the NA’s Standing Committee on Interior convened at the Central Police Office (CPO), presided over by MNA Abdul Qadir Patel.
Among those present were committee members MNAs Syed Rafiullah, Nabeel Gabol, and Khawaja Izharul Hassan, along with Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, senior city police officials, and representatives from the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Excise Department.
The committee was provided with a comprehensive briefing on the Mustafa Amir murder investigation, the suspect’s suspected connections with drug cartels, and the roles played by various law enforcement entities.
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According to insider sources, an FIA official disclosed details of the suspect’s financial misconduct during the session.
Authorities revealed that Armaghan had been operating an illegal call center for three years, amassing Rs17 billion in the process.
He funneled these funds into 40 different bank accounts, all registered under the names of his employees.
Explaining his fraudulent methods, the FIA official stated that the suspect and his team targeted international victims, impersonating officials from U.S. agencies to deceitfully acquire sensitive credit card details and siphon off their funds.
Officials clarified that they had extracted all relevant evidence from Armaghan’s primary laptop, while most confiscated devices from the suspect’s residence lacked critical data.
The committee instructed the FIA to present a comprehensive list of all operational call centers in Karachi at the next meeting.
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Concerns Over Law Enforcement’s Inefficiency
Legislators expressed dissatisfaction over the police’s handling of several aspects of the case, including delays in investigation, the raid on Armaghan’s residence, and the lack of a recorded confessional statement.
Additionally, authorities raised concerns about courier companies allegedly facilitating drug trafficking, prompting a directive for ANF to submit a report in the next meeting.
Lawmakers also inquired about the suspect’s uncle, who is an active-duty police officer, and questioned how a single individual was able to resist the police for three hours during the raid.
The case of a woman allegedly assaulted by the suspect was also discussed.
Police officials stated that she received treatment at a private hospital but did not file an official complaint.
Authorities suspect the suspect acquired the cache of weapons found in their possession online.
A law enforcement source disclosed that, despite claims of a crackdown on drugs, narcotics remain easily accessible in certain areas, a concern highlighted by MNA Nabeel Gabol.
The committee directed the excise department to enhance its resources and recruit additional personnel to combat drug-related crimes.
Furthermore, they requested a detailed report on the suspect’s luxury vehicles.
A final committee meeting is scheduled post-Eid to conclude the investigation.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) affirmed that committee members commended the collaborative efforts of law enforcement in gathering substantial evidence.
Lawmakers emphasized the need to thoroughly conclude the Mustafa Amir case and publicly disclose the findings upon completion.
