Woman journalist victim in Pakistan takes action against online harassment

May 9, 2026

A Pakistani television journalist, Gharida Farooqi from GTV News, became the target of coordinated online harassment after a photograph of her wearing a green suit went viral during international peace talks in Islamabad. The harassment included morphed images, AI-generated videos, and gender-based attacks focusing on her clothing rather than her professional work. Farooqi responded by filing a formal complaint with Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, which resulted in multiple arrests of those responsible for the digital abuse.

Who is affected

Gharida Farooqi, anchorperson at GTV News
Women journalists in Pakistan generally, who face technology-facilitated gender-based violence
Female journalists and media professionals globally (45% reported self-censoring according to UN Women report)
Mohammad Saqib (son of Shamim Akhtar) and other arrested individuals accused of harassment
47 out of 88 journalists (predominantly women) who sought support from the Digital Rights Foundation's helpline in 2025
Other named journalists including Asma Shirazi who has faced similar harassment

What action is being taken

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is conducting raids and making arrests of individuals involved in the harassment campaign
Gharida Farooqi is gathering evidence and sharing details of arrests publicly to raise awareness
Authorities are continuing to conduct raids to apprehend additional suspects involved in the harassment
The Digital Rights Foundation's Digital Security Helpline is offering assistance to survivors facing harassment, blackmail, and coordinated online attacks

Why it matters

This case highlights a systemic problem where women journalists are judged and attacked based on their appearance rather than their professional work, undermining gender equality in media. The incident demonstrates how technology-facilitated gender-based violence silences women's voices, with 45% of female journalists self-censoring to avoid abuse—a 50% increase since 2020. This threatens press freedom and equal participation in public discourse, as women are increasingly pushed out of media spaces. The successful law enforcement response in this case is significant because it signals that such harassment will face consequences, potentially strengthening institutional accountability. However, the broader context reveals that existing laws like PECA 2016, originally designed to protect women online, have often been misused against free expression rather than fulfilling their protective purpose.

What's next

Further arrests are expected in the coming hours as authorities continue raids
Gharida Farooqi stated she will keep sharing details of further arrests to raise public awareness and reinforce zero tolerance messaging
Remaining suspects involved in the harassment campaign are being pursued through ongoing law enforcement operations

Read full article from source: Global Voices