CONVERSATIONS around women’s em-powerment increasingly include the need for safe digital spaces. However, for many women in Pakistan, seeking justice against online harassment remains a deeply frustrating experience. In recent years, the government has introduced new laws and institutional reforms aimed at addressing cybercrime. Yet, the experiences of many complainants suggest that little or nothing has so far changed in practice.

Several women, who have approached cybercrime authorities with complaints of online harassment, describe having faced discouragement, procedural delays and dismissive attitudes of the officials. In some cases, complainants say they were asked to surrender their personal mobile phones at the complaint verification stage, even before the registration of an FIR; a demand that digital rights experts say has no clear legal basis. Instead of receiving support, victims often feel they are placed under scrutiny, while the accused persons remain unchallenged.

According to official data available on the website of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), 171,600 complaints were received in 2024, including more than 37,000 filed by women. Yet, the conviction rate remains extremely low. The data further shows that a large pro-portion of complaints is closed without formal inquiry, raising questions about investigative capacity and accountability.

The result is a widening gap between the promise of legal protection and the reality faced by the victims. While online harassment continues to rise with rapidly expanding digital access, many women hesitate to report abuse because they fear a long, humiliating and ultimately fruitless process.

For Pakistan to ensure safer digital spaces, the relevant authorities need to strengthen oversight of crucial cybercrime investigations, establish effective survivor-centred reporting mechanisms, and ensure that officials treat all complai-nants with dignity rather than suspicion.

Naeem Ahmad
Faisalabad

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2026