HRCP Flags Pakistan's Role in Global Child Abuse Content
Islamabad, October 28: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has raised fresh concerns about online child sexual abuse, stating that Pakistan is one of the South Asian countries most affected by the problem. In a comparative study, the commission recorded about 41.3 cases of exposure to child sexual abuse material for every 10,000 people.
In its newest report, the commission said the evidence shows Pakistan is involved in the global network of abusive content not only as a place where children are harmed, but also as a centre of demand, production and distribution. Experts linked this activity to large gaps in the regulation of digital infrastructure.
Referring to media reports, HRCP noted that in May 2025 the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) discreetly uncovered one of the country's worst child sexual abuse networks. The case emerged in Muzaffargarh district of Punjab province.
According to the commission, the investigation revealed an international group allegedly led by a German citizen. The suspect was said to have created a so-called 'fight club' to entice, train and exploit children aged six to ten.
The club reportedly used digital cameras and high-speed internet to offer what officials called 'cutting-edge facilities.' Abuse was filmed and live-streamed in secret on the dark web, then sold to international buyers. Investigators confirmed that the footage was sold for thousands of dollars and that no fewer than 50 children were harmed.
The report also drew on the scale of abuse documented by civil society groups, citing 'Cruel Numbers 2024,' the yearly report of Islamabad-based organisation Sahil. It recorded 3,364 cases of child abuse across Pakistan, including sexual exploitation, abduction and child marriage.
HRCP cautioned that these statistics represent only incidents that were reported. Low reporting, stigma and bureaucratic opacity mean that most cases, especially online abuse, are never recorded.
Digital rights experts have warned that Pakistani children are being exposed to unsuitable content on an unprecedented scale as technology becomes more widely available, increasing their risk.
The commission said that broad connectivity, weak regulatory oversight and limited digital literacy have made children especially vulnerable to sexual abuse, blackmail, harassment and trafficking through online channels.
HRCP described the failure to ensure online safety for children as a broader crisis of governance and rights rather than a simple technical oversight. It said the problem reflects the link between state accountability, technology regulation and social silence, in which such cases are condemned when they come to light and then ignored.