SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)-
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has approved the ‘The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2015’, a bill criticised for being controversial and draconian. According to the bill, criticism online of religion, the country, its courts, and the armed forces are among subjects which will invoke official intervention. Posting a picture of someone on social media without their written consent, criticising a politician on a blog or expressing religious views that oppose those of dominant religious groups could get an ordinary citizen labelled a cybercriminal if the bill is passed, with activities that have become as common as everyday speech being punishable by heavy fines, imprisonment or both. The bill redefines the term cybercrime altogether, targeting ordinary citizens who share their views in cyberspace rather than cyber criminals and terrorists.
Such controversial clauses of the bill has invited sheer criticism and most of the people are of the view that it will suppress our ability to express our opinion, to write freely, to create memes, or cartoons, especially ones that are political in nature or even upload pictures of people without asking their permission. The draftspersons of this bill seem to have forgotten that there are some inalienable rights given to a Pakistani citizen and that no law violating them can be passed. The fact that the law has moved forward on the floor of the assembly is incredibly worrying.It seems as though lawmakers have no clue that this law will be in violation of basi constitutional rights. It is important that citizens identify and understand the problems with this bill, and not stand by while it is in the process of being enacted.
pakistan.shafaqna.com