Sadia Mirza’s sister says it’s a frame-up

Arrest under cybercrime laws

Rana insists sisters were blackmailing him

MANCHESTER/LONDON: The sister of Sadia Mirza — the first woman arrested in Pakistan under the cybercrimes laws — says her sister has been framed up by her relative and class-fellow using some high ranks in Pakistan, as he could not do anything against her in the UK.

Sadia Mirza was arrested in Sialkot district of Pakistan over the weekend by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2015 (PECA) for “sending threatening, abusive, and lewd messages”, according to reports.

She is also accused of sending threats of extortion to Ahsan Rana, a resident of Manchester, UK. Her arrest came following complaint from Hassan Rana, Ahsan's brother. According to her case, Mirza is accused of blackmailing Ahsan Rana.

However, speaking in Manchester, Sadia Mirza’s sister, Sameera Mirza, said the accused was in fact a victim, framed by the complainants, who actually held grudges against her [Sameera] “but were unable” to do anything in the UK.

“Ahsan has some grudges against me, but he can't do anything to me as I am here in the UK, but instead he used some high ranks within Pakistan to frame my sister and got her arrested,” Sameera Mirza said, talking exclusively to The News.

"Cyber-crime accusations [against Sadia] are absolutely false. A normal Facebook chat has been portrayed as threatening, my sister is vulnerable, she lives on her own in Pakistan,” Mirza added. “My sister is innocent.”

Sameera Mirza said that Ahsan Rana was not only her relative, but they also study together.  “He [Ahsan] is also my class-fellow. Two of his wives are also my class-fellow and friends and the third wife... is my sister's class-fellow and friend,” she added.

“We all grew up together. I was a "Gawah" [witness] in one of his weddings,” she said, but added that she did not play any role in Ahsan’s marriages or “the troubles” in his married life.  “It has nothing to do with us, he has not married or left anyone because of me or my sister,” she said.

“My sister only wrote his love story on Facebook status. It was a blame game for which I have complained to police against Ahsan here in the UK. The police advised me that it's their personal matter and we all should not write stuff about each other on Facebook,” Sameera added.

Sameera Mirza insisted that her sister was innocent and was framed.  “I demand a full investigation into this matter and urge the Pakistani government to assure me [of] security for my sister," Mirza told The News.

When The News contacted Ahsan Rana over the phone from London, he rejected the allegations made by Sameera, saying that the FIA took action only when there was enough evidence available. He accused the Mirza sisters of blackmailing him.

“As you are aware that the FIA first is investigating this matter; if there is enough evidence and proof only then they launch an FIR [the first information report, which is a form of initiating police case in Pakistan].”

Rana said the sisters had been blackmailing him. “These ladies have been interfering in my personal life since long, harassing and blackmailing me and my family in Pakistan. I am not their first victim... As this matter is in court of law, I do not want to comment any further.”