ISLAMABAD: Authorities have arrested the alleged ringleader of an international child pornography network in Islamabad following an extensive investigation.
Asim Muhammad Qasim, a resident of Lahore’s Ichhra area, was taken into custody by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). During questioning, Qasim reportedly confessed to sexually assaulting seven minor girls, including some of his relatives, and selling explicit videos of the abuse on the dark web for over ten years.
Investigators revealed that Qasim had been involved in these crimes for more than 14 years, targeting two young girls from his own family. He allegedly recorded and produced over 50 explicit videos between 2008 and 2022, distributing them via online platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and other social media networks.
Substantial digital evidence was recovered from his mobile phone, hard drives, and social media accounts, exposing his connections with foreign associates, including individuals identified as “Sassi” from Brazil and “Twinkle” from Portugal.
It took the NCCIA nearly a year to trace Asim, with the first video linked to him surfacing in Singapore, which triggered an international investigation. Law enforcement agencies from Singapore, Australia, Portugal, and Brazil worked in collaboration with Pakistan to locate and apprehend the suspect.
The arrest was made with the help of Australian authorities, and a case has been filed against Qasim. Investigators believe further arrests may be imminent as they continue efforts to dismantle the larger network involved in child exploitation.
Authorities are hopeful that this breakthrough will aid in uncovering and dismantling other international child abuse rings operating on the dark web.
