Online stalking in Pakistan: recognise it, stop it, report it.

Online stalking — or cyberstalking — is when someone uses digital tools to monitor, harass, or intimidate you over a sustained period. In Pakistan, it most commonly occurs in the context of ended relationships, online dating, and social media. It is a crime.

Signs you are being stalked online

• They appear in multiple online spaces you frequent — even after you've blocked them on one platform
• They seem to know details about your life that you didn't share with them directly
• You receive messages from multiple unknown accounts with the same tone or information
• Your friends or family are being contacted or questioned about you
• You notice your accounts being accessed from unrecognised locations (check Gmail: scroll to bottom → "Last account activity")
• Photos from your social media appear somewhere else, used without your permission
• Someone is showing up at places you mentioned being — physically

Digital signs your devices may be compromised

• Battery draining faster than usual (spyware runs constantly)
• Phone running hot when not in heavy use
• Data usage is inexplicably high
• Apps you didn't install are present
• Your accounts are showing login activity you don't recognise

How to stop online stalking

• Block on every platform — methodically, one by one
• Review and tighten all privacy settings across social media
• Change passwords for all accounts and enable 2FA
• Tell trusted people what's happening — they can help monitor and act as witnesses
• Keep a log: date, time, platform, and what happened for every incident
• Report to FIA Cybercrime: 0800-02345

Legal protection

Cyberstalking is covered under PECA 2016 Section 20. Filing an FIA complaint creates a formal record that is often enough to stop low-level stalking. For physical stalking, file an FIR at your local police station.