The legal framework
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 contains offences covering the unauthorised use of a person's identity information, the display or transmission of intimate images without consent, and cyberstalking. Complaints go to the Federal Investigation Agency's Cybercrime Wing, which maintains a dedicated complaint channel for women.
Key points
| Statute | Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 |
|---|---|
| Offences | Non-consensual intimate imagery, cyberstalking, identity misuse |
| Enforcement | FIA Cybercrime Wing, with women's complaint desks |
| Removal | PTA can order blocking of unlawful online content |
| Confidentiality | Requests for confidential handling should be made expressly |
| Penalties | Imprisonment and fines |
| Cyber Harassment Helpline | Run by a civil society organisation, with legal and digital security support |
| Confidential handling | Can be requested and should be recorded in the complaint |
| Blocking | The regulator can order content blocked where hosted abroad |
In practice
- Save the evidence before reporting: screenshots with the URL and date, the account name, and any messages.
- Use the platform's own reporting form first — it is the fastest route to removal — then report to the authority.
- Use StopNCII.org or Take It Down for intimate images: they create a digital fingerprint so participating platforms can block re-uploads without you sending the image anywhere.
- Do not pay a person demanding money to delete an image: payment almost always leads to further demands.
- Contact the helpline before filing: they can advise on safe framing of the complaint.
Where to go
- FIA Cybercrime Wing regional offices.
- Pakistan Telecommunication Authority complaint portal.
- Digital Rights Foundation Cyber Harassment Helpline.
Worth knowing
Confidentiality matters enormously here. Ask for a woman officer and for the complaint to be handled discreetly, and seek help from a specialist helpline before filing if you are unsure. Filing a complaint can itself create risk in some family situations. Specialist helplines exist precisely to manage that.
Official sources and links
- Government of Pakistan — official government portal