ISLAMABAD ( ABRAR MUSTAFA )
National Assembly’s standing committee on Information and Technology today decided to form a sub-committee to finalize Cyber Crime Bill.
Sub-committee for finalization of Cyber Crime Bill will start its proceedings immediately and is likely to hold a meeting next week where representation from ISI, Interior Ministry, Law Ministry and legal experts are also invited.
Sub-committee members include Maj (R) Tahir Iqbal, Shazia Marri, Awais Leghari, Ali Raza Abidi and Farhana Bibi.
Anusha Rehman, State Minister for IT and Telecom, briefed the standing committee that Cyber Crime Bill was prepared after consultation from law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders, however, it faced criticism from NGOs and was shelved until a more unanimous draft is worked-out.
Ms. Anusha said that NGOs were asked to submit their input on the proposed bill that they were criticizing, however Ministry hasn’t received any response from them yet.
Tahir Iqbal, Chairman Standing Committee, opined that law and order situation in the country is important and internet and social media is fast becoming a space that sabotages national security.
Mr. Tahir said that severe laws are in place even in developed markets and Pakistan will also have take tough decisions to safeguard our national interests.
National Assembly’s standing committee on Information and Technology today showed its serious concerns over thousands of websites operated by terrorist organizations and asked Pakistan Telecommunication Authority about the steps it is taking to block the content of such terrorist websites.
Tahir Iqbal, who was chairing the meeting, said that there are more than 25,000 websites accessible in Pakistan that are operated by terrorist organizations.
Dr. Ismail Shah, Chairman, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, while briefing the committee said that based on an order from Islamabad High Court, PTA can’t block any of the website on its own.
He said that there has to be a complaint registered with PTA for the blocking of a website after which authority investigates the content of reported website to finally block it. He said that Islamabad high court is also intimated of any website that is blocked by PTA.
Azmat Ranjha, Secretary IT, expressed that law enforcement agencies have been asked to form research wings for sharing the information of terrorist websites with PTA.
Chairman of IT standing committee emphasized that PTA and LEAs should be closely in touch to share information on terrorist websites and issue must be addressed on priority.
It is now expected that PTA will block the access of all sorts of terrorists websites in the country. Anyone who has information on any terror website or Facebook page can contact PTA to report it.