Pakistani TikToker Imsha Rehman pardons accused in video leak scandal

Pakistani TikToker and social media influencer Imsha Rehman has pardoned Abdul Aziz, the man accused of sharing her leaked video, telling an Islamabad court on Thursday that she was forgiving him "for the sake of God".

Her lawyer, Advocate Hadi Ali Chatha, did not oppose Aziz’s bail in court and asked the judge to note that the accused had shown remorse. The court granted bail in the high-profile cybercrime case.

Aziz's family members were present in the courtroom, including his father, Muhammad Ishaq. Speaking to Nukta, Ishaq said his son had only forwarded a video he received on social media, a mistake made by many others.

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“We are sorry to the complainant that my son shared the video unknowingly, and we are also thankful to Imsha Rehman for pardoning him,” Ishaq said. He urged the public not to share controversial posts online.

The case

Aziz was arrested by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in January after Rehman filed a complaint, alleging that edited and fake pornographic content featuring her had been circulated online. The FIA cybercrime wing tracked his online activity with assistance from Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

An initial police report, or FIR, was registered at the FIA Cyber Crime Reporting Center in Islamabad on January 21 under Sections 20, 21, and 24 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. Aziz was accused of operating multiple fake social media accounts to distribute explicit content targeting Rehman.

FIA officials said Aziz’s digital footprint was traced through IP logs provided by Meta. "Meta usually doesn’t give us records, but due to the sensitivity of this case, they cooperated," an FIA official told Nukta on condition of anonymity.

‘He has learned his lesson’

Speaking to Nukta, Rehman’s lawyer, Advocate Chatha, said she believed Aziz had learned his lesson.

“He received material that he shared on social media because it was viral at the time,” Chatha said. “People need to realize it’s a crime to share such content, and the FIA can come after them.”

A close family source of Aziz, speaking anonymously, told Nukta that his lawyer had taken a hefty fee but failed to represent him in court. “If Imsha Rehman had not pardoned him, we would’ve been in serious trouble,” the source said.

Aziz, speaking after the hearing, expressed gratitude for the pardon and admitted he did not fully understand the consequences of his actions. “I did not create or edit anything, but I did share it without thinking,” he said. “I have learned how dangerous this can be.”

‘My life was destroyed’

Rehman previously described the impact of the scandal as devastating.

“I was hosting an event in Islamabad on Nov. 8 when my phone was flooded with messages,” she told Nukta. “A friend sent me a video, and my life was finished after that. I couldn’t leave my house.”

She said she deactivated her social media accounts, received death threats, and feared for her safety. Despite this, she pursued legal action to set an example.

“Girls usually don’t trust the system, but the FIA can do a lot. More victims should come forward,” she said.

Rehman added that she chose to forgive Aziz, but she still believes stronger action should be taken against those who manipulate and spread false content.

A legal turning point

Chatha called the case a landmark for digital rights in Pakistan.

“People don’t understand the damage caused by sharing such content,” he said. “Imsha showed courage, and this should serve as a warning.”

FIA officials say that 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.

Rights activist Mehnaz echoed this, calling it an eye-opener.

“Young girls need to understand the internet is dangerous if you’re not aware of online threats,” she said. “Imsha endured trauma but stood her ground, proving the internet should be safe for everyone.”

Growing concerns over cybercrime

Cyber harassment has been on the rise in Pakistan, with FIA cybercrime officials reporting an increase in cases related to online blackmail, deepfake videos, and privacy breaches.

Legal experts say the case highlights gaps in public awareness about digital safety.

“Most people don’t understand the legal risks of forwarding explicit content,” said digital rights advocate Usman Ghani. “Even sharing a post can land someone in legal trouble.”

FIA’s crackdown on such cases has intensified in recent years, with the agency urging victims to come forward rather than suffer in silence.