Pakistan’s Cyber Crime Bill 2007

The Federal Cabinet approved the adoption of The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill 2007 on 17 January 2007. The proposed law titled as Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill 2007 offers 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 deals with the electronic crimes included, cyber terrorism, criminal access, criminal data access, data damage electronic fraud, electronic forgery, misuse of electronic system or electronic device, unauthorised access to code, misuse of encryption, misuse of code, cyber stalking and suggest stringent punishment for offences involving sensitive electronic crimes.

It proposes seven years punishment on charges of electronic fraud and electronic forgery and would not have the right of bail whereas those tried for data damage, system damage and criminal data access, misuse of electronic system or electronic device would get maximum three-year punishment with the right of bail.

The bill suggests maximum punishment of death or life imprisonment for those booked under cyber crimes or involved in sensitive electronic systems offences.

Following the passage of the mentioned bill, the Minister for Information Technology Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari stated that the e-crime law would require the internet companies maintain their traffic data for at least six months to enable the agencies to investigate cases involving data stored by them. He said the law would enable the government to seek extradition of foreign nationals through Interpol for their involvement in criminal activities punishable under the law.