Another disturbing case of child pornography has surfaced in Muzaffargarh’s Sardarabad village, where multiple children were subjected to sexual abuse, with videos of the acts used for blackmail.
The case came to light after a courageous victim, a young boy, reported the crimes to the police, leading to the arrest of the suspect, identified as Farid Gabol.
According to police reports, Gabol allegedly abused several children in Mauza Sardarabad over a long time, recording indecent videos to coerce and blackmail his victims. The victim who reported the crime provided authorities with several of these videos, which were recovered alongside valuable mobile phones from the suspect's possession.
The complainant alleged that Gabol had molested several children, including him, and kept blackmailing them by recording their indecent videos. "The videos of some children were also shared on social media," he claimed.
The Saddar police station has taken Gabol into custody and is actively contacting other victims to pursue legal action. Authorities are working to ensure justice for those affected and to provide support to the victims.
Also Read: Global child porn ring busted in Muzaffargarh; foreign mastermind arrested
This case follows closely on the heels of another major child pornography bust in Muzaffargarh’s Daira Din Panah, where an international gang was apprehended for producing and selling indecent videos of children on the dark web. The back-to-back cases have raised serious concerns about child safety in the region.
Earlier in June, around a week after it was reported that a horrific child pornography ring operating in a remote village of Muzaffargarh was dismantled by Pakistani authorities, the National Cybercrime Investigation Authority (NCCIA) DG and the minister of state for interior disclosed details of how the gang was busted.
While holding a press conference in Islamabad, the officials said the gang, which produced and sold explicit videos of children on the dark web, was exposed following a tip-off from the Special Branch, leading to a major crackdown by the NCCIA.
Key details
German mastermind: The gang’s leader, a German resident, visited Pakistan for 20 days to establish a professional studio and train locals in producing exploitative content before leaving the country.
Local involvement: Five Pakistani accomplices were arrested, while Interpol has been contacted through the Foreign Office to apprehend the fugitive foreign suspect.
Victims: Around 50 children, aged six to 10, were subjected to abuse, with some parents allegedly complicit in the crime. Six rescued children have been handed over to the Child Protection Department.
Evidence seized: Authorities recovered 800 explicit videos from the gang, which were being sold on the dark web for $100 to $500 per video, depending on quality and content. All the videos produced in the studio were sent to the foreign leader.
How the gang was caught
The Special Branch alerted the NCCIA about suspicious activities linked to the German national. After surveillance and investigation, the cybercrime unit raided the studio in Muzaffargarh, arresting local members and seizing equipment.
Also Read: Global child porn ring in Pakistan: German leader, 50 kids rescued, families involved
NCCIA DG Waqaruddin Syed called this the "first and only incident of its kind in Pakistan", where a locally operated studio produced content for international dark web markets. "The price of this content -- ranging from $100 to $500 on the dark web -- varies depending on its video quality, length and other accessories."
Stricter punishments enforced
Pakistan has amended laws to impose harsher penalties for child abuse, with convicts facing 14 to 20 years in prison without bail or reconciliation options. The National Cyber Emergency Response Team has also urged parents to monitor children’s online activities closely.
On May 27, it was reported that the NCCIA Multan had busted an international child pornography network run from Muzaffargarh, arresting two suspects, and rescuing six children in a major operation.
The arrested suspects, identified as Junaid and Irfan, were actively involved in producing and distributing explicit videos of children aged six to eight years. These videos were allegedly sold on various foreign websites, sources said. They further said that the gang exploited some children by luring them with money for its nefarious purposes and some were blackmailed into it.
During raids, the NCCIA recovered electronic devices, including computers and mobile phones, along with hundreds of objectionable videos. The suspects had even set up a private studio to produce the illicit content.
