LAHORE: A man who blackmailed and harassed a girl through social networking website “facebook” has been jailed for 14 months.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had arrested Azhar Safdar, the convict, following a complaint lodged by the girl under the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016.

The agency told the trial court that the mobile phone recovered from the custody of the convict at the time of his arrest contained objectionable material related to the complainant.

However, the defence counsel refuted the allegations and said the mobile phone allegedly recovered by the agency did not belong to the suspect rather it was planted at the place of arrest.

In his verdict, Judicial Magistrate Farooq Azam Sohal observed that the defence had failed to shatter the reality of phenomenon of cyber stalking as established by the prosecution evidence.

Expressing his concern over increasing incidents of cyber stalking, the magistrate observed: “Every scientific invention simplifies the aspect of everyday life, at the same time it gives birth to a new crime.”

The judge stressed the need for awareness campaigns by the government to educate people on cyber crimes.

The trial judge sentenced the suspect to jail term for 14 months and also imposed a fine of Rs200,000.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2017