The government will set up special information technology (IT) tribunals in the Federal Capital and provincial headquarters to investigate and check the incidents of e-crimes, which have remained unpunished for lack of specific law.
The special tribunals, having seven members, including one as chairman, would hear appeals against electronic crimes, an official of Information Technology Ministry said here on Sunday.
He said that a single member would hear the case, and first appeal would go to a larger bench of the same tribunal.
He said the proposed law, titled as 'Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill-2006' would be tabled in the parliament very soon and would help draw more business and improve Pakistan's e-readiness ranking as reflected in the indices maintained by various agencies and business journals of the world.
He said that the Bill proposes penalties ranging from six months imprisonment to capital punishment for 17 types of cyber crimes, including cyber terrorism, hacking of websites and criminal access to secure data.
The Bill, approved by the Federal Cabinet, is the need of the hour as crimes related to information technology (IT) were increasing day by day, he said, while explaining salient features of the proposed law.
"Financial frauds and identity thefts are increasing cause of concern for banks besides hackers who are earning bad name," he said, and added that the law would enable the government to seek extradition of foreign nationals through Interpol for their involvement in criminal activities punishable under the law.
"This law would operate like other laws of the country, and the agencies would be able to seek extradition of foreign nationals residing in countries which have mutual extradition treatises signed with Pakistan," he said.
The official said the implementation of the Bill would give sense of safety and protection to users and curb electronic crimes in the country.
The official said the need of electronic crimes laws were felt as highly sensitive data and electronic systems, including control and command system, did not have proper legal protection from perpetrators of electronic crimes.
He said that the government has set up a committee, headed by Prime Minister's Advisor Shariffuddin Pirzada to recommend constitution of a specialised agency to ensure implementation of the law.
He said that the committee would submit its recommendations to the Prime Minister within a month, with the proposal for either setting up a new specialised agency or assigning the implementation task to any of the existing law enforcement agencies.
He said that the IT Ministry would give special training to the Judges to increase their capacity and understanding of electronic crimes. Either one of existing law enforcement agencies, after receiving specialised training would investigate electronic crimes, or new investigation agency would be set up for this purpose.
He said it would promote the IT sector and build confidence among IT professionals, software exporters, bankers, financial experts and stock brokers.
Comments
Comments are closed.