Naqvi Warns Women Against Sharing Photos Online as Cybercrime Surges — NCCIA’s Fight With 61 Officers for Punjab
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has issued a stark warning to women across Pakistan: do not share your photographs online, under any circumstances. Speaking at an open court at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) zonal headquarters in Lahore on October 23, 2026, Naqvi said cybercrime — particularly online harassment and blackmail of girls —…
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has issued a stark warning to women across Pakistan: do not share your photographs online, under any circumstances. Speaking at an open court at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) zonal headquarters in Lahore on October 23, 2026, Naqvi said cybercrime — particularly online harassment and blackmail of girls — has surged to alarming levels, while the agency tasked with fighting it runs on just 61 personnel across all of Punjab.
If you are a parent, a student, or simply someone who keeps a smartphone in their pocket, this matters to you directly. This is not an abstract policy speech. Naqvi heard complaints from real victims at the open court, including families of girls who were blackmailed through videos — and, in the most heartbreaking admission of the day, he met girls who had attempted suicide after online harassment.
Key Facts at a Glance
| What happened | Details |
|---|---|
| Who warned | Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi |
| Where | NCCIA zonal headquarters, Lahore — open court hearing citizens’ cybercrime complaints |
| When | 23 October 2026 |
| The warning | “I request women, for God’s sake, not to share their pictures under any circumstances” |
| NCCIA strength in Punjab | Only 61 personnel/officers across the entire province |
| Case burden | One investigation officer handles 3,000–4,000 cases |
| Recent arrests | Over 1,000 suspects arrested in 12 days, including 600 in Lahore |
| Fraud traced | A $6 million fraud case traced by the NCCIA |
“For God’s Sake, Do Not Share Your Pictures”
Naqvi’s message was unusually personal for a government statement. A large number of women have lodged complaints of online harassment and cyber-blackmail, and the NCCIA is now receiving the highest number of cases involving harassment of girls, he said. Women are being blackmailed through videos, and the minister said he had personally met girls who attempted suicide after being harassed — a line he delivered not for effect, but to underline why the warning is so urgent.
His core advice to the public went beyond the photo warning. He cautioned citizens not to transfer money online to strangers, including people who pretend to be ill or pose as relatives asking for help. “If you disclose your password over the phone, how can your money remain secure?” he asked. Hundreds of people, he noted, have already been arrested from illegal call centres running online fraud operations.
61 Officers for All of Punjab — The Staffing Crisis
Perhaps the most revealing figure of the day had nothing to do with criminals. The NCCIA has only 61 personnel and officers across Punjab — a province of over 120 million people. Each investigation officer is carrying 3,000 to 4,000 cases. On top of that, the law requires the agency to issue three notices before registering an FIR, a procedure that causes damaging delays in sensitive harassment cases.
Naqvi conceded the problem openly and said efforts are underway to strengthen the agency’s workforce and give the NCCIA powers equivalent to the FIA’s. For families waiting months for a blackmail complaint to move, that reform cannot come soon enough. The agency’s recent record shows what even a thin force can achieve when it acts: its officers carried out the 1,129-suspect cybercrime crackdown earlier this month, and NCCIA’s Lahore operations have continued to net suspects through October.
1,000+ Arrested, Child Exploitation Network Busted
The crackdown figures are genuinely striking. In just 12 days, the NCCIA arrested more than 1,000 suspects, including 600 in Lahore alone. In the same sweep, the agency busted a child exploitation network operating through WhatsApp groups that targeted children aged 6 to 14 — with the abusive material being sold on the dark web. It echoes the kind of case that has shocked the country before, such as NCCIA’s rescue of a 13-year-old Karachi girl from a dark-web network.
Separately, the agency has traced a $6 million fraud case, and Naqvi has vowed a wider crackdown on cybercrime. A public awareness campaign aimed specifically at girls — and at the general public — is also planned, a sign the government recognises that prevention matters as much as arrests.
How to Report Cybercrime in Pakistan
If you or someone you know is being harassed or blackmailed online, act fast — and do not delete the evidence. Here is what to do:
- Preserve evidence: Screenshot messages, save chat histories, record URLs and profile names, and note dates and times. Do not engage with the blackmailer or pay anything.
- Lodge a complaint with the NCCIA: Visit your nearest NCCIA zonal office or lodge the complaint through the agency’s official online channels with your evidence attached.
- Report and block on the platform: Use the in-app reporting tools on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok alongside the formal complaint — platform reports can get abusive accounts suspended quickly.
- Act early: Blackmailers rely on shame and delay. The sooner a complaint is registered, the faster investigators can trace accounts before evidence disappears.
