NCCIA seeks social media record, five-year financial details from Mohammad Rizwan

A five-page questionnaire issued to Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Rizwan by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in connection with an inquiry into alleged online betting and gambling has come to light, with the agency seeking extensive details of his social media activity, income, expenditure, bank accounts, property and travel history.

The questionnaire was presented before the Lahore High Court by the NCCIA’s counsel during proceedings on Rizwan’s petition challenging the agency’s notice and inquiry. The questionnaire has sought information covering periods of up to 10 years.

According to the questionnaire obtained by HUM News, the NCCIA has asked Rizwan to provide basic personal information, including his father’s name, date and place of birth, his wife’s name and details of his children.

The agency has also sought details of all social media accounts used by the former Pakistan captain over the past 10 years, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms.

Income, expenses and bank accounts.

The questionnaire seeks details of Rizwan’s sources of income during the past five years, including salary, rental income, business earnings and agricultural income.

He has also been asked to provide details of profits earned on money held in his bank accounts.

The NCCIA has sought information about his household expenditure over the same period, including expenses incurred on the education of his children, according to the questionnaire.

The cricketer has also been asked to provide details of all bank accounts and credit cards held by him during the past five years, as well as information about any loans obtained by him or members of his family.

Property and inheritance

The agency has sought details of inherited property held by Rizwan, including evidence showing from whom the property was transferred to him.

The questionnaire also asks for details of property bought or sold by the cricketer during the past five years.

The request for financial and property records forms part of the extensive information sought by the agency as it investigates the allegations referred to in its notice. The questionnaire itself, however, does not establish that Rizwan committed any offence.

Travel record sought

The NCCIA has also asked Rizwan to provide details of his domestic and international travel during the past five years.

The information sought includes the destinations visited, expenses incurred and the duration of his stays abroad, as well as details of travel within Pakistan.

Rizwan questions basis of inquiry

The questionnaire emerged as Rizwan challenged the NCCIA proceedings before the Lahore High Court.

According to court reports, Rizwan received an NCCIA notice on September 8 and appeared before the agency on September 10 along with fellow cricketer Imam-ul-Haq.

Rizwan has argued that the notice did not identify any specific online betting or gambling activity with which he was allegedly associated. He has also questioned the agency’s jurisdiction and sought details of the allegations against him.

In his written response to the NCCIA, Rizwan said he had repeatedly asked investigators to explain the allegations against him but was not provided with their full details.

He also maintained that matters involving alleged corruption by cricketers should be dealt with by the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit. Rizwan said that if there were allegations of corruption, online betting or gambling against him, they should be referred to the ICC’s anti-corruption body. He said he was willing to cooperate with an investigation once the allegations were clearly communicated to him.

Lahore High Court proceedings

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Alia Neelum on Thursday declined to entertain Rizwan’s petition at this stage and directed his counsel to respond to the NCCIA notice.

According to Dawn, Rizwan’s lawyer Qazi Umair Ali argued that the September 8 notice was unlawful and that the inquiry lacked legal jurisdiction. The petition also challenged the notice as vague and alleged that it was issued without identifying a specific offence.

The court’s direction came after the NCCIA questionnaire was placed before it. Rizwan’s lawyer later said outside the courtroom that a response to the agency had already been submitted.

Background to the NCCIA inquiry

The NCCIA inquiry follows a complaint lodged by the Pakistan Cricket Board during the national team’s recent England tour.

Dawn reported that the inquiry had initially been linked in media reports to alleged dressing-room leaks during the England Test series. The PCB had separately announced on September 7 that it had initiated an internal disciplinary inquiry following media reports concerning players’ discipline and conduct.

Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were among seven players recalled from England after Pakistan lost the first two Tests, eventually going down 3-0 in the series. The two players were subsequently barred from playing in the President’s Trophy Grade-I domestic first-class tournament.

The latest questionnaire, however, specifically seeks extensive personal, financial, property, social-media and travel information from Rizwan in the context of the NCCIA inquiry referred to in the agency’s notice.

The allegations against Rizwan remain unproven, while the cricketer has denied wrongdoing and has sought clarification of the specific allegations being investigated.