LAHORE — Police have arrested a local man accused of running a sophisticated blackmail ring, using the promise of religious guidance to extort and harass women.
The suspect, identified as Muhammad Aslam, operated under the guise of an “Istikhara expert” — a traditional Islamic practice used to seek divine guidance. Investigators say he leveraged the trust of his victims to gain access to private information, which he later weaponized to demand money and exert control.
The investigation began after a victim approached the Cyber Crime Wing, detailing how the suspect had turned her request for spiritual counsel into a months-long ordeal of digital extortion.
“He didn’t just ask for money,” said a senior official familiar with the investigation. “He used the sensitive details women shared in confidence to threaten their reputations. It was a calculated trap.”
According to police, the suspect used social media advertisements to market his services, promising solutions to marital discord, financial woes, and personal anxiety. Once a client reached out, he would request intimate details or photos under the pretext of ‘spiritual cleansing.’ Once in possession of this material, the suspect would pivot, threatening to release the data publicly unless his financial demands were met.
Authorities have recovered several mobile devices and digital records from the suspect’s residence in Lahore’s outskirts. Preliminary forensic reports suggest there are at least a dozen other victims, though many remain reluctant to come forward due to the social stigma associated with such cases.
The arrest has once again highlighted the vulnerability of social media users to predatory schemes that exploit religious sentiment. While the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has intensified its monitoring of online spiritual healers, officials admit that the anonymity of digital platforms makes it difficult to track these networks before damage is done.
The suspect remains in police custody as investigators comb through his digital footprint to determine the full scope of the operation. For now, the police are urging other victims to step forward, promising anonymity and protection as they build their case against a man who turned a sacred tradition into a tool for exploitation.
