Nine years ago, Pakistan enacted the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) as a ‘safeguard’ against harassment and hate speech. In reality, the law has, however, continued to falter where it matters the most: protecting women.
Public shaming, victim blaming, and character assassination are just some of the consequences women face for simply being online. Combined with a lack of faith in the legal system, these fears force many women to suppress their anger and continue suffering in silence.
Beenish, a working woman from Karachi, has endured constant online threats and blackmail. Yet, she has never sought help from the authorities—not because the abuse was inconsequential, but because she feared the repercussions of going public would be even more damaging.
Advocate Irum Shujah, the legal manager at Digital Rights Foundation— which runs a Cyber Harassment Helpline for victims of online harassment and violence— shared that many survivors simply wish to remain anonymous. “Many women who contact our helpline express a strong desire to report incidents… but often request complete anonymity due to fear of reputational harm, family backlash, or social ostracisation,” she shared.
A survey conducted for the news report revealed that the case of Beenish is the norm, and not an exception. A little over 80% of the survey participants shared that they did not approach any institution after facing cybercrimes– be it bullying, rape threats, harassment, stalking.
Survey respondents who did go ahead with reporting the crimes against them shared that the process was quite tough and strenuous because of delayed timelines, reliving old trauma and lack of institutional support in the country.
Some even faced pressure from their families to stop pursuing the case and “settle”, while others simply withdrew into silence. The role of community pressure cannot be negated in such cases. “A client of mine was pressured by her university and local influential figures to withdraw a complaint she filed against blackmail. She was a top student but ultimately chose silence over academic risk,” Shujah added.
The Government of Pakistan has in recent years, changed mechanisms for reporting crimes. The now-defunct Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency has been replaced by the recently established National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency. Still many women remain hesitant to approach the authorities.
Advocate Sidra also received inappropriate messages online, but never turned to the authorities. “It felt even more burdensome emotionally to engage with an institution,” she shared.
Twenty-four-year-old Alishba has been stalked online and even received graphic threats. She never reported these crimes because she was convinced that male officers would not treat her case seriously. Many survey respondents shared, similarly, that they would only file a complaint if there were women investigators.
Kainat, a survivor of account hacking and online stalking, rated her trust in the system at 1 out of 5. “I didn’t trust the system to take me seriously,” she remarked.
Women feel hesitant to report cyberbullying because of several factors, FIA Assistant Sub Inspector Nadeem Arshad reasoned, adding “these include fear of judgement, lack of trust in the outcomes, limited awareness of legal protections, or concern about family or societal reactions.”
Arshad, however, believes that reporting of cases depends on the nature of the case and the region it’s being reported from. “Some women have reported helpful interactions, while others found the process challenging due to contextual factors.”
He did acknowledge that concerns surrounding a lack of women officers in the Cyber Crime Wing were quite valid. “There were female officers in the Cybercrime Wing, particularly in major cities. But they only made up about 5–10% of the staff,” Arshad remarked. “Expanding the number of trained female officers and ensuring gender-sensitive practices across the board can help improve access and trust in the system.”
Filing complaints – A walkthrough
The FIA, which was empowered under PECA to investigate cases of cybercrime before the NCCIA was established, used to accept complaints through physical centres, helpline, and an online portal.
Advocate Mahmood Ali Arain, the head of litigation at a Karachi-based law firm, walked us through the process of filing a cyber harassment complaint. “A woman facing cyber harassment usually starts by filing a complaint with the FIA. If sufficient material is found, then an FIR is registered and the case proceeds before a judicial magistrate or a PECA court.”
However, the resolution is rarely swift. “Based on procedural practice in Pakistan, a PECA case can take several months to over two years from complaint registration till final conclusion,” Arain added.
The launch of an initial inquiry, and FIR registration may take a few weeks to a couple of months, Arain said. “Investigation and forensic analysis can extend over several more months.”
Advocate Shiza Qurashi Saleem, the head of legal at Project Salaam, shared that most delays occur during investigations. “Often, complainants lose hope before the case even reaches the courtroom.”
FIA protocols, however, outline ideal timelines: seven days for processing of online complaints, 10 days via email, 14 days for verification, and up to 90 days for inquiry. But on the ground, delays are routine.
“Most victims come with a genuine grievance but insufficient evidence,” Saleem said. “Additionally, victims don’t always know how to draft a technically sound complaint and this becomes a crucial hurdle.”
According to Shujah, if credible evidence is gathered, the NCCIA may proceed with an FIR. Without it, the case can disappear.
Reforming the system
Between 2020 and 2024, the FIA Cybercrime Wing registered 639,564 complaints. Of these, 414,260 were deemed verifiable. Only 73,825 progressed to inquiry, 5,713 resulted in court cases, and just 222 ended in convictions — a success rate of 3.16%.
In 2023, The News reported that the FIA received 82,396 verifiable complaints, but only achieved 92 convictions.
“PECA offers a working framework, but it doesn’t fully meet the needs of survivors,” Saleem stated. “Cyber harassment is not a DIY procedure—it’s technical, emotionally demanding, and sensitive.”
Shujah also pointed out the institutional apathy towards the needs of survivors. “ “Survivors often face insensitive or victim-blaming behaviour,” she said, adding that our courts and law enforcement agencies lack survivor-centred support.
“There are no trained victim support officers, no in-house psychological counselling, and no designated safe spaces during questioning or hearings,” Saleem added.
Arshad shared that a structural change is long overdue. “There were efforts to build internal capacity but integrating structured gender-sensitivity training into routine operations was still an area under development during the FIA mandate.”
While PECA, NCCIA, and FIA may constitute the letter of the law, it is implementation that determines its worth. For thousands of women, the gap between legislation and lived reality remains vast.
“Online complaints submitted through the FIA portal are often not taken as seriously as those submitted in person. It is essential that online complaints are given equal significance and prompt action is taken,” Shujah added.
“Cyber harassment is not just a criminal offence — it is a deeply personal violation,” said Saleem. “The legal system must evolve to respect the emotional, digital, and legal realities of survivors.”
Both DRF and legal experts have proposed reforms which include women-only intake and support cells for survivors, provision of psychosocial services, fast-tracking digital harassment courts, enabling anonymous reporting systems, and enforcement of stronger data protection protocols.
The story has been edited by Yasal Munim who works as Senior Manager Programs at Media Matters for Democracy.
