Cyber crime bill sets no restrictions on print, electronic media: minister

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 7 August 2015

Federal Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan announced that the cyber crime law does not restrict media. The draft will soon be presented to Parliament.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan informed the National Assembly Friday that draft cyber crime law imposes no restrictions on print and electronic media. He said the Prevention of Electronic Crime Bill 2015 is ready for being tabled before the Parliament and it addresses the issues related to cyber crimes only. “It is neither related to the electronic media and print media nor imposes any restrictions on them,” he said. The minister said the draft law has been drafted jointly by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom, Federal Investigation Agency and other stakeholders, which has been analyzed and scrutinized by the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom. Human rights and freedom of speech activists have, however, termed the draft law against the press freedom and demanded some amendments to it.

KEY POINTS:

• Draft cyber crime law addresses only cyber crimes.
• Bill prepared by Ministry of IT and Telecom and Federal Investigation Agency.
• No restrictions on print and electronic media imposed.
• Human rights activists call for amendments to protect press freedom.
• Bill analyzed by National Assembly Standing Committee on IT.