IHC Hands 10-Year Jail Sentence to Two Men for Blackmailing Minor

News Desk

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Tuesday sentenced two men to ten years of rigorous imprisonment each after convicting them of harassing and blackmailing a 12-year-old girl.

The landmark judgment underscores growing judicial severity against cyber predators and child exploitation in Pakistan, following a comprehensive trial where prosecutors presented compelling forensic evidence against the perpetrators.

Judicial sources confirmed that the court also imposed heavy financial penalties amounting to hundreds of thousands of rupees on both convicts, ordering additional prison terms in the event of default.

The prosecution successfully proved that the defendants had unlawfully acquired personal images of the young victim, subsequently using digital platforms to threaten and extort her family over several months.

Investigators produced crucial technical evidence, including device logs and messaging records, which decisively established the culpability of the accused.

Human rights advocacy organizations and legal experts across the country have widely welcomed the verdict, characterizing it as a vital deterrent against the rising tide of digital harassment targeting minors.

Advocates stressed that rigorous enforcement of cybercrime regulations and swift judicial proceedings are essential to protecting children in an era of expanding internet access, where predatory behavior often goes unreported due to social stigma.

Authorities have assured the public that specialized cybercrime units remain fully equipped to handle complaints involving underage victims with utmost confidentiality and urgency.

Following the sentencing, social welfare officers urged parents and educators to foster open communication regarding online safety, while reinforcing the necessity of reporting extortion and digital harassment immediately to law enforcement agencies for swift justice.