A Karachi court has sentenced Syed Faizan to nine years in prison for sharing obscene images of his estranged wife on WhatsApp. The judgment, delivered by Judicial Magistrate (East) Yusra Ashfaq, found Faizan guilty under multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, including offenses against dignity, modesty, and cyberstalking.
The court imposed a three-year prison sentence for each count and a fine of Rs90,000. Should Faizan fail to pay the fine, he will face an additional three months in prison.
“This action [of the accused] aimed at shaming and blackmailing the victim and her family, underscores the accused’s intent to exert psychological pressure and manipulate the victim, especially during a vulnerable period in her life when she was battling cancer,” the court observed, highlighting the severe emotional and reputational damage inflicted on the victim and her family.
The court further noted that Faizan’s actions were part of a broader pattern of control, exploitation, and intimidation. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Faizan had consistently demanded money from his wife and misappropriated her dowry, including Rs500,000 in cash and 30 tolas of gold. The abuse culminated in the sharing of explicit images with the victim’s brother in March 2022.
The case was brought to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) by the victim’s brother, who reported receiving the obscene images on WhatsApp. Following an investigation, the FIA Cyber Crime Wing apprehended Faizan and found incriminating material on his mobile phone.
During the trial, the prosecution successfully established the case against Faizan, with the forensic report corroborating the prosecution’s evidence. The defense’s attempt to challenge the clarity of the images was rejected by the court, which found no inconsistency in the prosecution’s case.