Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Expressing concern over the promulgation of Prevention of Electronic Crime Act (PECA) publically known as cybercrime bill, the representatives of various private organisations said that many things now share via social media from other sources could be used to stick a case against any person and declare as cyber-crime.

“Freedom of expression is not only enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; but is also enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan,” Qamar Naseem, a human right activist, told reporters during a press conference at press club.

He said that beyond human rights, the freedom of expression and information served as the foundation of any democratic state. Evolving and growing threat certainly required legislation that defined offences and establishes structures for reporting and investigating cybercrime, he added.

“We endorse the need for legislation to prevent cybercrimes but the legislation in its current form requires amendment as it can pose threat to freedom of Expression” he said and informed that around 30 million internet users in Pakistan, 15 million of whom browse the web using their mobile phone.

Qamar Naseem was flanked by Taimur Kamal, representative Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network and Tahira Kaleem, Coordinator Blue Veins Programme during the media talk and he said that lack of technical knowledge tempted lawmakers to use vague language that sweeps up innocent or commonplace behavior, and leaded them to invent drastic new punishments for offences that are already covered by existing statutes.

“Any act of curbing or limiting freedom of expression and information must be justifiable. This legislation is blatant attempt to silence dissent” said Taimur Kamal while talking to media.

He said that they must continue to ensure that basic human rights, such as free expression and free media, are safeguarded and apply online and offline.

He said that civil society organizations, right based groups and digital rights activists had shown disappointment over the enactment of that law and formulating mitigation strategies. “A consultation was recently conducted to formulate a national joint mitigation strategy and roadmap for the stakeholders moving forward on cyber-crime act” he said.

He maintained that the consultation helped the multi stakeholders to identify short and long term advocacy needs and strategy areas and improve networking and synergy at national level to joint advocacy and coordinated actions.