Cyber Crimes Bill repugnant to fundamental laws: CSOs

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA has termed the draft of the proposed Cyber Crimes Bill repugnant to fundamental law of the freedom of expression and violation of the United Nations resolutions and human rights conventions.
These observations were made by the representatives of KP Civil Society Network, Tribal NGOs Consortium and Blue Veins while addressing a press conference here Wednesday. Those who addressed the press conference were included KP Civil Society Network, Taimur Kamal, Co-ordinator, Blue Veins, Qamar Nasim and Co-ordinator, Tribal NGOs Consortium, Zar Ali Khan.
They told the journalists that the civil society has presented their recommendations to the Standing Committee on Information and Technology and expressed the hope that the ministry concerned will exhibit positive reaction to them. Briefing the newsmen regarding the back ground of laws regarding cyber crimes in Pakistan, they said that for first time in 2007 it was promulgated through a Presidential Ordinance, which have become dysfunctional in 2009 and now after the passage of five the ministry concerned is making efforts to bring another law for prevention of cyber crimes.
For this purpose, they said the Standing Committee of the National Assembly has prepared a draft bill, which after severe reservations of the civil society and IT industry has been sent for amendments and general public have also been asked for giving their opinion. The standing committee after giving final shape to the legislation will present it in the National Assembly.
Speaking on the occasion, Co-ordinator KP Civil Society Network, Tamiur Kamal welcomed the legislation for prevention of cyber crimes. However, he said that in present shape, the Bill is repugnant to personal privacy, basic human rights and international laws. Therefore, he said that amendments to bring it in the ambit of human rights are essential.
Program Co-ordinator, Blue Veins Qamar Nasim termed the proposed draft Bill as violation of the UN resolutions and human rights conventions, which have been ratified by Pakistan. He said that if the proposed draft was passed then it could be easily used for political victimisation. He said that civil society and human rights activists are not against the proposed legislation, but wanted suitable amendments in it. For this purpose, he said the civil society presented both their reservations and recommendations to the government. He said that civil society has objections over the language of the draft which is not clear and meaningful and particularly not the unveiling of the explanations of the bill.
He said that as the proposed law proposed highly harsh penalties regarding cyber crime, therefore, he proposed the passage of such law that will meet the needs of justice. Otherwise, he said this legislation will prove disastrous for those using social media and internet.