Two members of Pakistan’s National Assembly have lost a combined Rs. 3.5 million in separate SIM fraud cases, in which criminals allegedly obtained duplicate SIM cards and used them to access bank accounts.

According to an investigation published by The News, MQM MNA Farhan Chishti lost Rs. 1.5 million after his mobile SIM suddenly stopped working. A duplicate SIM had reportedly been issued against his number without his knowledge, allowing a fraudster to register for online banking and transfer funds.

Another MNA, Shaharyar Mahar, lost Rs. 2 million in a separate incident involving SIM fraud.

The investigation also reported that Karachi businessman Sunny Kumar lost Rs. 8.5 million in a similar case. The fraud allegedly involved a bank employee who accessed customer records and shared information with others.

Investigators suspect that criminals may be exploiting leaked personal data or misusing biometric information to obtain duplicate SIM cards. However, the investigation did not establish how Chishti’s fingerprint information was obtained.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) imposed fines of Rs. 77.8 million on a telecom operator in each of two cases over SIMs issued without proper verification.

The investigation also raised questions about accountability across the banking and telecom sectors, reporting that action against the banks was limited to directions to return the victims’ money.