Wasim Akram faces strong criticism on gambling promotion

Former Pakistan cricket star Wasim Akram landed in controversy after a citizen lodged a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), alleging his endorsement of an illegal online gambling platform.

The petitioner, Muhammad Fayyaz, claimed that Akram had entered into an agreement with the company known as Baji. He stated that promotional material, including a poster and a short video clip shared on social media, showed Akram encouraging users to register with the betting service. The petition argued that such an endorsement violates Pakistani laws, which strictly ban gambling in all forms. It further requested the authorities to take legal action under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. The complainant stressed that the promotion of gambling platforms not only breaks the law but also undermines social and moral values in the country.

At this stage, Akram has not issued any public response to the allegations. However, the case has already stirred debate over the role of public figures in endorsing content that conflicts with national laws. Legal observers suggest that the outcome will depend on whether the court finds sufficient evidence linking Akram directly to the promotional campaign. This development follows a similar incident involving well-known YouTuber Saad-ur-Rehman, popularly called Dickie Bhai. He was recently taken into custody by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency for allegedly promoting online betting applications. The back-to-back cases indicate that authorities are intensifying their efforts to curb the growing influence of illegal gambling platforms in Pakistan.