By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan is contemplating promulgating an ordinance to curb rising cyber crimes. But critics feel the government’s real aim is to restrict information flow.
According to the proposed law, taking anybody’s picture without consent and sending unscrupulous material or messages through mobile telephones or Internet or obtaining information on arms and ammunition will be punishable offences.
“The law proposes seven-year imprisonment or 300,000 (Pakistani) rupees fine or both,” said a government official.
According to the official, the Prevention of Electronic Crime Ordinance may be promulgated in a couple of days.
Under the Pakistani constitution, the president can promulgate an ordinance when parliament is not in session. Parliament was dissolved in November when it completed its five-year term. The country will vote Feb 18 to elect a new house.
Human rights activists and IT experts have criticised the proposed law saying it aims to restrict information flow.
“The access to information is guaranteed in the constitution. We will strongly object to any move that restricts people from accessing information,” said Waheed Khan of the Pakistan Human Rights Commission.
He said this was being done in the name of copyrights and curbing vulgarity.
Sources in the government, however, said that the move to promulgate the ordinance was initiated following a flood of email and SMS jokes on Musharraf.