Islamabad Court Sentences Two Men to 10 Years for Blackmailing Minor Girl

ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad court on Wednesday sentenced two men to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each after finding them guilty of blackmailing and harassing a 12-year-old girl using digital means. The court also imposed significant financial penalties on both convicts, underscoring the judiciary’s growing resolve to crack down severely on cybercrimes targeting vulnerable minors across the country.

The verdict was delivered following detailed arguments and digital forensic evidence presented by the prosecution, which established that the convicts had used electronic platforms to intimidate the young victim and her family. Law enforcement authorities, working alongside cybercrime investigators, successfully traced the digital footprints of the accused and recovered incriminating material used during the blackmail scheme. The court ruled that the charges brought under relevant sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) were proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Legal experts and child protection advocates have welcomed the stern ruling, describing it as a vital deterrent against the rising wave of online harassment and cyber-blackmail targeting adolescents in Pakistan. With internet access expanding rapidly across the nation, law enforcement agencies and judicial bodies are increasingly prioritizing the protection of children online, signaling that perpetrators of digital abuse will face severe legal consequences.

Following the announcement of the judgment, both convicts were immediately taken into law enforcement custody and transferred to prison to serve their sentences. Authorities emphasized that state agencies will continue to strengthen technical capabilities to detect cybercrimes and guarantee swift justice for victims of digital extortion and harassment.