A man has been sentenced to six years in prison for sharing explicit videos and images of a woman with her fiancé and family members on WhatsApp in 2021. The court found the accused, Muhammad Anas, guilty of cyberstalking and offences under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016.
The ruling was issued by Judicial Magistrate (East) Yusra Ashfaq, who convicted Anas under sections 20 (offences against the dignity of a natural person), 21 (offences against modesty of a natural person and minor), and 24 (cyberstalking) of the PECA. For each of these offences, Anas was sentenced to two years in prison, along with a fine of Rs 90,000. If the fine is not paid, he will face an additional 60 days in jail.
The court’s decision was based on strong evidence, including witness testimonies and forensic analysis, which confirmed that Anas had sent the explicit material from his device to several recipients. The magistrate pointed out that the prosecution had effectively proven the accused’s actions.
In her ruling, Magistrate Ashfaq explained that Anas’s motive appeared to be an attempt to exploit the woman’s trust. The victim, who had been in a relationship with Anas for several years, had shared private images and videos with him voluntarily. However, after their relationship ended, Anas used these materials to harass and blackmail her by sending the images to her fiancé and family members.
“This distribution of personal material was intended to harm the complainant emotionally and socially, potentially as a form of revenge or control after the relationship ended,” the magistrate stated. She further explained that this act was a violation of the victim’s privacy and dignity, and it was a deliberate attempt to cause distress.
The victim testified that she and Anas had been in a relationship for several years, during which she had shared personal photos and videos with him. However, after her engagement to another person, Anas shared these private materials with her fiancé, sister, and aunt, which led to significant emotional distress for the victim.
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecutor Sheraz Rajpar stated that the woman had filed a complaint with the agency’s Cyber Crime Reporting Circle. She claimed that Anas had offered to marry her but never formally approached her parents. After her engagement to someone else, Anas allegedly shared explicit images and videos of her with her fiancé and family members on WhatsApp.
Rajpar emphasized that the prosecution had successfully proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt, pointing to the consistency in witness statements and the forensic evidence obtained from Anas’s phone, which corroborated the victim’s testimony.
During the trial, the victim described how Anas had pressured her into sending him explicit photos and later used this material to blackmail her. She revealed that after her family arranged her engagement to another man, Anas sent the images and videos to her fiancé and family, causing significant harm to her reputation.
Anas, however, maintained his innocence throughout the trial, claiming that the woman filed the complaint after his family rejected her marriage proposal. He stated that they had been in a relationship before the incident, and he argued that the woman’s complaint was motivated by personal reasons related to their broken relationship.
The court’s ruling highlights the seriousness of cyberstalking and the misuse of personal material, reinforcing the legal framework established under PECA to protect individuals from online abuse and harassment. The verdict also serves as a reminder of the potential consequences for those who exploit technology to violate others’ privacy and dignity.
