NCCIA summons famous TikToker Iqra Kanwal in alleged promotion of gambling apps

LAHORE: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has summoned YouTubers and a few social media influencers for their suspected roles in large-scale financial frauds associated with the promotion of unlicensed online trading and gambling apps.

As per official records, the NCCIA has asked Mudassar Hassan, Muhammad Anas Ali, Iqra Kanwal, and Muhammad Husnain Shah to appear in person on September 2, 2025, at the NCCIA Lahore office, as part of an ongoing investigation.

The defendants are charged with marketing illicit online gaming and betting applications and encouraging youth to invest in offshore, unregulated betting websites, utilizing social media to legitimize and glamorize such investments, and structuring a common scheme to defraud the public by inducing investments in unregistered, non-licensed programs.

The NCCIA statement adds that failure to appear will be tantamount to an admission of guilt or waiver of the right to present a defense.

Prior investigative reports corroborated by whistleblower reports identified that the controversial online gambling platform “World 777” has been actively sponsoring influencer marketing campaigns on social media, enticing thousands of unsuspecting Pakistanis, particularly youth, into the high-stakes arena of online gambling.

A roster of popular personalities supposedly responsible for marketing the app is Mathira (media personality and model), Nadir Ali (YouTuber), and Aimen Zaman. Varda Malik, Javeria Aurangzeb, Abeera Khan, Faryal Fairy, Nauman Kazmi.

Estimates by officials are that billions of rupees are leaving Pakistan every month through these unregulated sites, building a shadow economy that erodes the stability of the country’s finances while driving addiction and financial disaster among susceptible users.