Pakistan arrests man over fake pornographic videos of social media influencer with Meta’s help

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a man accused of disseminating edited and fake pornographic photos and videos of social media influencer Imsha Rehman, officials confirmed to Nukta.

The suspect, identified as Abdul Aziz, was detained in Punjab province’s Gujranwala city following a complaint filed by Rehman, a popular content creator on TikTok and Instagram. Authorities tracked his online activities with assistance from Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

An initial police report, or FIR, was filed at the FIA Cyber Crime Reporting Center in Islamabad on Jan. 21, 2025. Aziz was charged under Sections 20 (violation of privacy), 21, and 24 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.

According to the FIR, Aziz allegedly created multiple fake social media accounts to upload, edit, and distribute explicit images and videos of Rehman. The FIR also names a Instagram page as being linked to Aziz.

The complaint states that Aziz, along with unidentified individuals, maliciously edited and superimposed Rehman's images, causing severe reputational harm.

A senior FIA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Nukta that Meta provided authorities with the Internet Protocol (IP) logs of pages that shared the material, enabling investigators to trace Aziz’s digital footprint.

“Meta usually doesn’t give us the record, but because of the sensitivity of this case, they provided the data,” the official said. “They also share data with us on cases involving child pornography and other sensitive content.”

FIA officials said online harassment and blackmail are growing concerns in Pakistan. “Our message to criminals is that you are traceable if you leak or blackmail someone with their private videos,” an FIA representative said.

‘My life has been confined to a room’

Rehman described the ordeal as devastating. “I was hosting an event in Islamabad on Nov. 8 when my phone was flooded with calls and messages,” she told Nukta. “A friend sent me a video, and my life was finished after that. I can’t go to university, I can’t face people, I can’t leave my house.”

She said she deactivated all her social media accounts and went into hiding. “I received death threats. My friends were also affected because people recognized them from my public account,” Rehman said. “People don’t realize how a single post can turn someone’s life upside down.”

Despite the trauma, she said she pursued legal action to send a message. “I could’ve posted a video right away, but I took the legal route, and the accused is behind bars now,” she said. “Girls usually don’t trust the system, but FIA can do a lot. More victims should come forward.”

Legal proceedings

Aziz appeared before a PECA court in Islamabad, where he was initially remanded into FIA custody for three days. The judge later denied further physical remand, sending him to judicial lockup. His bail application has not yet been filed.

Speaking to Nukta, Aziz denied the allegations.

“I didn’t share any objectionable videos. I just shared memes,” he said. “I received a notice from FIA and traveled to Islamabad in compliance, but they arrested me.” He said he works at his father’s spare parts shop in Gujranwala and was recently married.

Aziz’s lawyer, Advocate Khaqan Mir, accused FIA of making arbitrary arrests.

“A lot of content creators’ private videos were leaked last year. Instead of finding the real culprits, FIA is arresting innocent people to show numbers to the government,” Mir said.

A landmark case for digital rights

Advocate Hadi Ali Chatha, representing Rehman, called the case a turning point.

“People don’t understand the magnitude of the damage when such content is shared,” Chatha told Nukta. “Imsha showed courage. The perpetrator was arrested, and this should serve as a warning.”

He urged the public to be cautious. “If you interact with any fake profile of Imsha Rehman, you’re committing a crime,” he said. “The law will take its course.”

Rights activist Mehnaz called the case an eye-opener.

“Young girls need to understand the internet is a dangerous space if you’re not aware of online threats,” she said. “Imsha approached me after the incident, and I saw firsthand the trauma she endured. But she stood her ground, proving the internet should be safe for everyone.”