FIA extends probe into child pornography countrywide

FIA extends probe into child pornography countrywide

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has extended the scope of its investigations into child sexual abuse and pornography countrywide, following the arrest of a suspect involved in online trading of such content.

FIA deputy director Khalid Anis said that the scope of investigations has been extended on the directives of the FIA director general.

"A two-member team has been formed, while letters have been written to FIA offices all over the country," Anis said.

The team comprises FIA officials Imran Haider and Salman Khan, he added.

On Sunday, the FIA arrested a man, Taimur Maqsood, for possessing and dealing in child porn videos from Jhang’s Satellite town.

During the raid, 60 gigabytes of data, a laptop, mobile phone, banned films and other equipment was recovered from the suspect, who is an electrical engineer by profession.

"The data recovered from the suspect has been scanned," Anis said further, adding that the videos are not of Pakistani children, but of minors from other countries.

Sunday's raid in Jhang was conducted following a tip-off from Canadian law enforcement authorities via Interpol.

FIA officials informed that Canadian authorities had identified the individual after an operation in Ottawa.

The suspect, during initial investigation, stated that he was involved in the act for his gratification.