My mother received the following in an email and asked me to be careful online.This is very, very frightening for someone like me who has a blog like this one. I could very well be arrested and tried under this ridiculous bill. This is the work of a power hungry dictator who wants no one to oppose him. I fear that it will be abused.
In a shocking development the President of Pakistan has promulgated the Cyber Crime bill, I don’t have the exact document but our last understanding of the issue – which was the ‘final draft’ this bill can be considered very dangerous for regular citizens. The bill forms a Tribunal which is in effect judge jury and executioner all encompassing, it allows the FIA full authority to confiscate and arrest anyone who is deemed by the government to be in violation of the ‘integrity of Pakistan’ labeled as a person having terroristic intent – this is a new word created by the Govt of Pakistan for the English Language 
. There maybe some good aspects to the law but when an agency or tribunal supersedes the Justice system one would tend to worry of its widespread potential to misuse.
As per the final draft – an officer can walk into my house confiscate my computer and arrest me, he/she does not have to explain why and neither give reason for the arrest. I shall remain in custody as long as it takes for the tribunal to take collect evidence. And if found guilty by the Tribunal I am punishable from 3-10 years &/or Rs. 5,00,000.
In all honesty I feel this is just a step to clamp down on the Internet and can be seen to be just like the PEMRA ordinance that was enforced on the media after Nov 3rd
DISCLAIMER: This is my own understanding as per the FINAL DRAFT that was up for approval – though our team of lawyers met the Ministry of IT and voiced their opinions, I am told that they were only heard and we don’t know if it was accepted into the bill. we await a copy and if someone has it please forward along
We must raise hell – don’t know if it will change anything but our protest must go all international news outlets
Terroristic is the adjective.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/terroristic
Comment by Fasi Aslam — January 10, 2008 @ 11:03 pm |
Thanks for pointing that our Fasi. But I can’t figure out where you want me to use/replace that. I didn’t write the text. Just got it in an email.
Comment by Nabiha Meher — January 11, 2008 @ 2:28 am |
thanks… cool article
http://www.spymac.com/details/?2325319
Comment by Martin Pisto — January 11, 2008 @ 4:29 am |
The saddest thing is, pro-Musharrafites will find an infinite number of excuses to validate this or they’ll simply ignore it and start bleating about the wonders he’s done for the economy. When are they going to wake up?
Comment by Kamil — January 14, 2008 @ 1:52 am |