Surge in cybercrime takes city by storm

FIA arrests several accused in raids conducted across the metropolis

LAHORE: The number of cases of cyber sexual harassments has witnessed a surged. Federal Investigation Agency Lahore (FIA) has arrested another accused over harassment and blackmailing a woman on Saturday.

The victim identified as Khalida Batool, a resident of WAPDA Town, registered a complaint with FIA regarding sexual harassment and blackmailing. On her complaint, FIA initiated investigations and on Saturday FIA’s Cyber Crime Circle team conducted a raid at WAPDA Town. The team arrested an accused and also recovered the data including pictures of the victim, alleged Whatsapp chat and Facebook profile from the cellphone of the accused.

A case has been registered against the accused identified as Muhammad Khalid Saeed. During initial investigations, it was transpired that the accused had befriended the victim. He later started blackmailing and harassing her to share her pictures.



Another accused who disguised himself as an inspector of the Federal Board of Revenue was arrested from a restaurant during a raid by FIA. Marwa Rasheed registered a complaint of sexual harassment, blackmailing and extortion of money to FIA. Following the complaint, FIA started investigations and conducted a raid at a fast-food restaurant outlet on Jail Road. Nadeem Akhtar Khan, a resident of Allama Iqbal Town, was arrested. Further investigation is underway. FIA recovered the data of the victim from the mobile phone of the accused. A case has been registered against the accused under Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016.

In another case a week ago, Federal Investigation Agency Lahore (FIA) has arrested a suspect for harassing and blackmailing a woman. The victim, a young girl, had befriended Mehar Imtiaz Ali. They were in contact with each other trust and intimacy developed between them, said an investigating officer. One day, on the accused’s insistence, the girl shared her pictures. Afterwards, the accused started sexually harassing and intimidating the girl. She resisted for sometimes and tried to convince the accused to delete her pictures, the officer said.

Finally, she informed her family about the issue. The mother of the victim registered a complaint with FIA. FIA conducted a raid and arrested the accused
from Sabzazar.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2018.