FIA Gilgit arrests suspect involved in harassing woman

GILGIT: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crimes Circle in Gilgit has arrested a man accused of harassing and blackmailing a woman and her family through social media, officials said on Thursday.

According to an FIA spokesperson, the suspect, identified as Furqan Abbas, a resident of Nagar district, was taken into custody during a targeted raid at a hostel in Gilgit following an initial probe into the allegations.

He shared explicit images and videos through fraudulent social media accounts to blackmail the woman and her family. Investigators seized the suspect’s mobile phone, which contained crucial evidence, including incriminating social media accounts and other related materials.

The suspect has been charged under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) sections 20, 21, and 22 and Sections 419 and 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), Section 419 pertains to cheating by personation, while Section 509 deals with the punishment for criminal intimidation.

He was presented before a special judge of the cybercrime court, who remanded him into FIA custody for seven days for further investigation. The official said the probe is ongoing, and further details will be shared in due course.

Earlier in September last year, the FIA Cyber Crimes Circle in Gilgit arrested two key suspects allegedly involved in blackmailing a minor girl by disseminating inappropriate videos through a fake Instagram account.

The accused identified as Latif Ali and Junaid Faraz were apprehended in the Yasin Tehsil of district Ghizer.