NCCIA busts child pornography network, finds father involved in selling explicit videos of his minor children

AI Summary

Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency says it dismantled an international child sexual abuse material network and arrested alleged perpetrators, including a father accused of producing and selling videos of his young children. Investigators reported that material was traded through encrypted messaging groups and cryptocurrency, and described separate cases involving online grooming, blackmail, and harassment of minors.

ISLAMABAD: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has busted an international child pornography network in which a father was found involved in making and selling explicit videos of his own children, the agency said on Sunday. Islamabad NCCIA Additional Director Mohammad Shoaib Khan, speaking at a press conference in the capital, claimed this was the first case in Pakistan’s history where a father was found involved in such a heinous crime against his own minor children. “The accused was involved in making indecent videos of his children, aged between four and five, and selling them. The videos were bought and sold in secret Telegram groups through cryptocurrency,” he said. Khan added the investigation also revealed disturbing scenes of animal abuse in the videos. He said the ringleader of the gang belonged to Skardu and was arrested with the assistance of international agencies. During the investigation, important links and evidence were recovered from Islamabad, Multan and South Punjab, and raids were being conducted to arrest other network facilitators, according to Khan. “Those involved in such heinous crimes will be brought to justice,” he said. In another similar case, Khan said the agency arrested four members of a child pornography gang after investigating around 60 videos recovered from a child’s mobile phone. He said the accused used to befriend children aged between six and 14 on Instagram, lure them with money and make indecent videos, which were then sold in WhatsApp groups and internationally. Khan said two Chinese nationals had also been convicted earlier in this crime. Sharing details of another case, the additional director said a minor girl from Karachi attempted suicide after being fed up with harassment. The girl is currently under treatment at a hospital. Khan said the NCCIA team, with the help of the victim’s family, traced and arrested the main accused from Islamabad in just 13 hours. He said the accused had been continuously harassing and blackmailing the victim for the last two to three years. “Providing justice to the affected families is our top priority. Strict implementation of a zero-tolerance policy against those harassing women and children is being ensured,” he said. The additional director further advised social media users to remain vigilant. “Think before uploading any indecent material. The law is in action; those uploading wrong content will not escape the law in any case,” he said. He urged citizens not to share their one-time password, bank account details or personal information with anyone and to beware of fake numbers on fake websites, as calling them may lead to emptying of accounts. “If you are a victim of cybercrime, do not remain silent; NCCIA stands with you,” he said, adding that citizens can call helpline 1799 for complaints, which is available 24 hours. ‘Zero-tolerance’ policy against cyber harassment of women, children According to a separate statement issued by the NCCIA, the agency’s Director General (DG) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi directed adopting a zero-tolerance policy against “elements harassing citizens,” particularly women and children, on social media. The directions were made in a meeting attended by Khan, Director IT Atif Abbas, in-charge of social media Tayyaba Daulat, Public Relations Officer Mehboob Elahi, among others. The meeting, per the statement, was given a detailed briefing on social media monitoring, prevention of fake news, cyber harassment cases, public awareness campaign and digital handling of cybercrime complaints. “DG NCCIA issued directions to make citizens’ protection on social media, prompt redressal of complaints and institutional coordination more effective and active,” it said. The DG further ordered strict monitoring of accounts spreading fake news, negative propaganda against state institutions and fear and panic among the public, and indiscriminate action against those responsible, according to the statement. On October 23, NCCIA Karachi Zone claimed to have arrested suspects from three firms allegedly involved in production, promotion, and online sale of sexually explicit animated cartoons, animated child sexual abuse material, pornographic digital content and other digital designing services to international customers. A recent Unicef report revealed that an estimated 1.5 million children in Pakistan experienced online sexual abuse in one year. As per the report, around 85 per cent of perpetrators were known to the victims, aged between 12 and 17. Furthermore, 71pc of victims did not tell anyone, according to the Unicef report, while no child surveyed reported the abuse through formal channels — including police, helplines or social workers. Meanwhile, child protection NGO Sahil estimates that at least 1,914 cases of child abuse were reported across the country in the first six months of 2026. From January to June 2026, as many as 1,015 cases of child sexual abuse, 558 ca