Cyberbullying and Online Threats Against Children: A Parent's Legal Guide in Pakistan

Not every unkind message between children needs a legal complaint, but parents should recognise the line: repeated targeted harassment, threats, impersonation, sharing or threatening to share a child's images, or contact from an adult stranger attempting to build a relationship with the child (grooming behaviour) are all conduct the law treats seriously, regardless of the perpetrator's age.

A well-meaning parent's instinct asking the child to repeatedly show messages, screenshot everything themselves, or explain the situation to multiple adults can itself add distress. Where possible, a parent or advocate should handle evidence collection directly from the device with the child present but not driving the process, and the child should only need to describe what happened once, ideally to a single trusted adult who then coordinates everything else.

Most schools maintain anti-bullying or student conduct policies that apply to cyberbullying between students even when it happens outside school hours, if it affects the child's wellbeing or safety at school. Reporting to the school in writing not only verbally to a teacher creates a record and triggers the school's own investigation and disciplinary process.

Where the school's response is inadequate, or the conduct crosses into criminal territory (threats, image-based abuse, an adult predator), the matter should proceed to a formal legal complaint independently of whatever the school decides internally school discipline and a PECA complaint are not alternatives to each other.

A parent or guardian files the NCCIA complaint on behalf of a minor, describing the conduct and attaching the preserved evidence. Where the conduct involves any sexual content or an adult attempting contact with a minor, this should be flagged explicitly as involving a minor at the point of filing penalties are enhanced under PECA where a minor is the victim, and the case is typically handled with additional sensitivity and priority.

1. 1

   Parent/guardian files or co-files the complaint

   The complaint identifies the child as a minor from the outset so the case is routed and handled appropriately.

2. 2

   Evidence package attached

   Screenshots, account details, and the written timeline prepared without repeatedly involving the child directly.

3. 3

   Coordinate with school and, where needed, police

   Serious threats or any indication of a safety risk to the child should also involve local police directly, alongside the NCCIA complaint.

4. 4

   Ongoing support for the child

   A legal complaint addresses the offence; separately, consider whether the child would benefit from talking to a school counsellor or trusted adult about the experience.