January 22, 2025
Staff Report
LAHORE
The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing has arrested 17 individuals for creating and circulating AI-generated images and videos targeting Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The arrests follow the registration of 18 cases related to the doctored content, which has been widely circulated on social media.
The controversy began after the UAE President visited Rahim Yar Khan earlier this month, where Maryam Nawaz greeted him with a handshake. Following the event, AI-generated content depicting her interaction with the UAE leader went viral online, prompting the FIA to launch an official investigation.
In a press conference on Tuesday, FIA Cybercrime Wing Additional Director Muhammad Sarfraz Chaudhry revealed that those involved in creating, sharing, and promoting the manipulated images had been identified and arrested.
The FIA has categorized the offenders into four groups: creators, sharers, commenters, and those who liked the content. Of the 17 arrested, eight are in judicial custody, while nine remain under physical remand.
PTI leader Shahbaz Gill and YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan have also been booked under Sections 20, 21(d), and 24 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. They are accused of sharing the AI-generated videos and images through their “X” accounts to incite public outrage and tarnish the reputation of both Pakistani and foreign officials.
FIA officials announced plans to apprehend additional individuals connected to the case, including absconders operating abroad, with assistance from Interpol. “The agency is also working to extradite key figures like Adil Raja and Shehbaz Gill,” said Additional Director Sarfraz Chaudhry.
In a fiery press conference Chaudhry said that their Joint Investigation Team (JIT), comprising deputy directors from Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, and Lahore, has scrutinized a number of suspected social media accounts and registered cases against those involved.
“Preliminary findings reveal that 20 social media accounts were responsible for uploading the manipulated images and videos of the UAE President and the Punjab Chief Minister,” he said. “These accounts were reportedly used to spread false visuals and create a negative impression among social media users.”
To prevent similar incidents in the future, the FIA has recommended enhancing penalties under the Cybercrime Act of 2016. The investigation remains ongoing, with a focus on identifying and prosecuting all individuals involved in these activities.
In a similar incident in July 2024, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari was targeted by a deepfake video that superimposed her face onto explicit content. The video, later debunked by fact-checking platform iVerify, aimed to discredit her politically. Women lawmakers condemned the act and initiated legal action against the perpetrators.