An Islamabad court has sentenced two men to 10 years in prison each for blackmailing a 12-year-old girl and sharing her objectionable photographs. The court also imposed a fine of Rs2 million on each convict under provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka announced the verdict on Thursday after hearing arguments from both sides. The ruling included separate prison sentences and financial penalties under Sections 22 and 24 of PECA, which address offences involving the misuse of electronic information and related forms of cyber harassment.
Under Section 22 of PECA, the court sentenced each man to seven years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs1 million. The provision concerns offences involving the creation, transmission or distribution of sexually explicit material in circumstances covered by the law.
The court also awarded each convict an additional three-year prison sentence under Section 24 of the same law and imposed a further fine of Rs1 million. As a result, both men received total prison sentences of 10 years and fines amounting to Rs2 million each.
The case was registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency after the victim’s father filed a complaint. The proceedings highlight the legal consequences of using digital platforms to blackmail minors or distribute intimate and objectionable material without consent.
The verdict also draws attention to the importance of protecting children from online exploitation and ensuring that complaints involving cybercrime are investigated through the appropriate legal channels. Parents and guardians are encouraged to report suspected online abuse to relevant authorities so that cases can be investigated and handled under applicable laws.
