In a landmark decision, a Karachi court sentenced Syed Faizan to a total of nine years in prison for sharing obscene images of his estranged wife on WhatsApp. The verdict was delivered by Judicial Magistrate (East) Yusra Ashfaq, who found Faizan guilty under multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016. The court also imposed a fine of Rs90,000, with an additional three-month imprisonment in case of non-payment.
The case highlighted the devastating impact of cybercrime on victims’ lives, particularly in cases involving intimate relationships. The court observed that Faizan’s actions were a deliberate attempt to shame and blackmail his estranged wife during a particularly vulnerable period in her life as she battled cancer. This, the court noted, was part of a broader pattern of control, exploitation, and intimidation that Faizan had directed towards his wife throughout their marriage.
A Pattern of Abuse and Exploitation
The court’s detailed judgment revealed a disturbing history of abuse, with Faizan consistently demanding money and misappropriating his wife’s dowry, which included substantial amounts of cash and gold. The abusive behavior escalated over time, culminating in the sharing of explicit images with the victim’s brother in March 2022. This action was intended to harm the victim’s reputation and exert psychological pressure on her and her family.
Assistant Director-Legal Sheraz Rajpar of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing provided critical evidence during the trial. He informed the court that the brother of the victim lodged a complaint after receiving the obscene images via WhatsApp. The FIA subsequently apprehended Faizan and seized his mobile phone, which contained the explicit material. A forensic report corroborated the evidence, showing the transmission of the images from Faizan to the complainant.
Legal Proceedings and Conviction
The prosecution, led by prosecutor Rajpar, argued that the case against Faizan was established beyond a reasonable doubt. The court agreed, noting that the testimonies of prosecution witnesses were consistent and the forensic evidence supported the allegations. The defense’s attempt to discredit the evidence by arguing that the images were blurry was rejected by the court, which found no basis for the defense’s claims.
Faizan was convicted under Sections 20 (dignity of natural person), 21 (modesty of natural person and minor), and 24 (cyberstalking) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016. Each count carried a three-year sentence, resulting in a total of nine years of imprisonment.
The court emphasized that Faizan’s actions not only caused profound emotional distress to the victim and her family but also further deteriorated the victim’s already fragile health. The judgment serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of cybercrimes, particularly those involving intimate images and relationships.
Additional Legal Developments
In a separate case, three new sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) were invoked in a high-profile gang rape and murder case of a minor girl in Karachi. The investigation officer (IO), Shama, informed the court that Sections 364-A (kidnapping or abducting a person under 14 years), 375-A (punishment for child rape), and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offense, or giving false information to screen offender) had been added to the case. This development came after the state prosecutor’s instruction and aimed to ensure a comprehensive legal response to the heinous crime.
The suspects in the gang rape and murder case were presented before Judicial Magistrate (South) Zahid Ali, who extended their police custody for five days. The IO requested additional time to apprehend the remaining suspect and recover the evidence, including the piece of cloth used to strangle the 12-year-old victim.
According to the FIR, the victim’s mother reported that her daughter went missing from their home on August 24. Her body was later found at a garbage dump near Lucky Star, leading to the ongoing investigation and the addition of the new charges.
These cases underscore the increasing importance of robust legal frameworks to address cybercrimes and violent offenses, particularly those targeting vulnerable individuals. The court’s decisions reflect a growing recognition of the need to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
