Stories We Hear Every Day

At Pride Pakistan, we receive countless messages from LGBTQ+ individuals who have endured unimaginable abuse at the hands of those meant to protect them. These are not isolated stories—they form a disturbing pattern of honey trapping, blackmail, sexual abuse, torture, and extortion carried out by individuals linked to Pakistan’s FIA, NCCIA, police, army, and intelligence agencies.

For many victims, the trauma is compounded by silence. Families often disown them, society blames them, and the state criminalises their very existence. This article is dedicated to those voices, those who have suffered in silence, those who are still trapped, and those who continue to resist.

• Honey Trap Scandals Involving Police: In Lahore and Rawalpindi, multiple gangs—including serving police officers, were arrested for running honey trap schemes. Victims were lured through social media, invited to private flats, then assaulted, filmed, and blackmailed. In one case, over 50 victims were identified, with explicit videos used to extort money under threat of exposure.
• The Case of Bilal Aslam (Punjab Police): Recently, a victim contacted Pride Pakistan and identified Bilal Aslam, a serving officer in the Punjab Police, as someone who has been sexually abusing and blackmailing gay community members. Survivors report being coerced into sexual acts under threat of exposure, with demands for money to prevent fabricated cases being filed against them. This case highlights how individuals within law enforcement exploit their authority to prey on vulnerable community members.
• Systematic Harassment of Gay Men: Research has shown that gay men in Pakistan routinely face verbal harassment, sexual violence, and blackmail, often from those in positions of authority.
• Use of Law as a Weapon: Section 377 of the Penal Code, which criminalises same-sex relations, is frequently used by police and agencies not to prosecute but to threaten, extort, and silence LGBTQ+ individuals.

To every person who has been trapped, abused, or blackmailed: your pain is real, your story matters, and you are not alone.

We know the courage it takes to reach out after such trauma. Many survivors describe feelings of shame, fear, and hopelessness. But let us be clear: the shame belongs to the perpetrators, not to you.

🛡️ Safety Guidance for Community Members

Online Safety

• Use a VPN to protect your identity and location.
• Verify contacts before meeting—video call first.
• Avoid sharing intimate photos or personal details.
• Watch for red flags: secrecy, pressure to meet quickly, refusal to show identity.

Offline Safety

• Meet in public places first.
• Avoid isolated flats or remote areas.
• Inform a trusted friend of your location.
• Trust your instincts and leave if something feels unsafe.

We demand that:

• The Government of Pakistan investigate and prosecute individuals within security agencies, including Bilal Aslam, who are implicated in abuse and blackmail.
• International human rights organisations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the UN Human Rights Council, pressure Pakistan to end these practices and protect LGBTQ+ citizens.
• Global allies amplify these stories so that silence does not continue to shield perpetrators.

References & Reports

• Lahore: Seven arrested, including police officers, in honey trap scandal – Pakistan – Aaj English TV
• Two honey trap gangs busted
• Lahore police officers, women arrested for honey trapping men, filming obscene videos | Dialogue Pakistan
• Abuse and Violence Experienced by Gay Men living in Pakistani cultural context: An interpretative phenomenology analysis – Monash University

The targeting of Pakistan’s gay community by security agencies is not just harassment—it is state-enabled violence. Every story we receive is a reminder of the urgent need for change.

To our community: stay safe, stay strong, and know that you are not alone. To the world: do not look away.