Question :

My ex‑partner is threatening to leak my intimate photos unless I meet him and give him my social media logins, and he has tried sending my photos to my mother and friends; as a 19‑year‑old student who does not want to tell family, what legal and protective actions can be taken.?

ANSWER ; 

This conduct is a serious crime under PECA and the Pakistan Penal Code, and the correct authority to report to is the newly established NCCIA with its 24-hour helpline at 1799; do not meet or comply with the blackmailer, preserve all evidence, and initiate a complaint immediately. Threats to leak intimate images to coerce meetings or account access fall squarely within PECA and can lead to arrest and prosecution once a complaint is lodged with NCCIA.

Updated agency and helpline

  • Pakistan’s cybercrime investigations are now handled by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which has taken over from the FIA Cyber Crime Wing as reported by national media and public sources.

  • The 24-hour cybercrime helpline is 1799; complaints can be initiated by calling 1799 for swift action and routing to NCCIA investigators.

What offences apply

  • PECA Section 19 covers “offences against modesty,” including threatening a person with a sexually explicit image or video to intimidate or blackmail, punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment and fine, which applies to threats to leak intimate pictures to force meetings or account access.

  • PECA Section 21 addresses cyberstalking (repeated threatening contact, monitoring, or distributing photos without consent causing fear or distress), punishable by up to three years and fine, with enhanced penalties where a minor is targeted.

  • Pakistan Penal Code Section 506 (criminal intimidation) and Section 384 (extortion) may also apply where threats are used to compel an act or obtain something of value (e.g., social media credentials).

Immediate steps

  • Preserve evidence: take screenshots of chats/messages, note dates and times, save phone numbers, profile links, and any files received; comprehensive evidence packages are crucial at intake.

  • Secure accounts: change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, check recovery emails/phones, and tighten privacy settings as recommended by national social-media safety guidance.

  • Do not meet, do not pay, and do not hand over login credentials; maintain all communications in writing to aid tracing and investigation.

How to report (NCCIA)

  • Call 1799 (24/7) or visit NCCIA website to lodge the complaint, receive guidance on evidence submission, and obtain a reference for follow-up with NCCIA.

  • NCCIA has replaced FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing and is the competent national authority for cybercrime investigations under PECA; matters are routed to relevant operational units after intake.

  • Public-facing information confirms NCCIA’s nationwide mandate and transition of functions from the former FIA wing, reflecting the current channel for cybercrime complaints.

Takedown options

  • PECA authorizes the competent Authority to remove or block access to offending online content upon complaint by the aggrieved person; applications can seek orders to prevent transmission or secure offending material under Section 19(3) and Section 21(3).

  • Content removal and blocking procedures are further governed by the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content Rules, enabling expedited action once notified with adequate particulars.

Practical do’s and don’ts

  • Do compile screenshots, message logs, caller IDs, profile URLs, and any file metadata before content is deleted; this expedites identification and takedown actions.

  • Do use in‑app platform reporting tools to flag abusive content and profiles in parallel with NCCIA reporting, aligning with national safety guidance.

  • Don’t meet or negotiate; escalate via 1799 and proceed through official channels to preserve safety and legal options.

Legal support

  • Experienced cybercrime counsel can structure the complaint, prepare annexures, pursue urgent platform/Authority takedowns, and liaise with investigators to protect rights under PECA and related laws, as reflected in practitioner-focused guidance.

If desired, Pak‑Lawyer Associates can assist with immediate complaint drafting, evidence preservation, and coordination with NCCIA for urgent restraint and investigation under PECA.

 

#PECA2016, #PECA2025Amendments, #PakistanCybercrimeLaw, #Section21PECA, #Section24PECA, #NonConsensualIntimateImages, #NCIIPakistan, #RevengePornLawPakistan, #SextortionPakistan, #CyberHarassmentPakistan, #CyberstalkingPakistan, #OnlineBlackmailPakistan, #IntimateImageBlackmail, #ThreatToLeakPicturesLaw, #ReportCybercrimePakistan, #NCCIA1799, #CybercrimeHelpline1799, #NCCIAComplaintPortal, #TakedownRequestPakistan, #SocialMediaHarassmentPakistan, #WhatsAppBlackmailPakistan, #InstagramAccountHackingPakistan, #FacebookBlackmailPakistan, #DigitalEvidencePreservationPakistan, #RemovalAndBlockingRules2021, #LahoreCybercrimeLawyer, #KarachiCybercrimeLawyer, #IslamabadCybercrimeLawyer, #BestCybercrimeLawFirmPakistan, #PakLawyerAssociates, #PakLawyer, #FilePECACase, #UrgentInjunctionPakistan, #RestrainingOrderCybercrimePakistan, #CyberDefamationPakistan, #CriminalIntimidationPakistan, #ExtortionOnlinePakistan, #LegalHelpForStudentsPakistan, #WomenSafetyOnlinePakistan, #OnlinePrivacyPakistan, #TwoFactorAuthenticationPakistan, #ReportToAuthoritiesPakistan, #CybercrimeFIRPakistan, #BlackmailComplaintPakistan, #EvidenceScreenshotsCybercrime, #TakedownIntimatePhotosPakistan, #SecureSocialMediaAccountsPakistan, #OnlineBlackmailUrdu, #TasveerLeakDhamkiQanoon, #RomanUrduOnlineBlackmailCase, #RomanUrduTasveerLeakLaw, #NCCIA1799Helpline, #RomanUrduCybercrimeReportPakista

Answer:

Write a comment: