CYBER LAWS REGULATING CYBER CRIME IN PAKISTAN
by Mahnoor
The area of Law that deals with the Internet’s relationship to technological and electronic elements, including Computers. Any crime done with the help of a computer and a network is known as Cybercrime. The hackers can get all of your vital information and data within minutes. The crime can seriously damage someone’s financial health and security as well. These days, Cyber crimes are increasing with every single day in our country.
In recent 3-years, Cyber crime has increased by 83% along with the financial frauds at the top. According to current situation, financial frauds, fake profiles, harassments, hacking, and defamation are the fastest increasing cyber crimes in the country.
Email, WhatsApp, and Face book are the most requently used means in cyber crimes. In Pakistan, The cities namely Islamabad, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, and Gujranwala witnessed most cases. Cyber Laws of Pakistan not only deal with crime of Internet. It also deals with all dimensions related to computer & network. The Acts of Cyber Laws dealing with Cybercrime are those:
- Electronic Transaction Ordinance (ETO) 2002, Electronic / Cyber Crime Bill 2007,
- Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.
The law dealing with Cyber crimes is Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (“Act”) which is applicable to every citizen of Pakistan wherever he may be and to every other person who is stationed in Pakistan for the time being. The law address to following types of cyber crimes under the Act 2016: Cyber Stalking, Child Pornography electronic fraud, Spamming, Use of another person’s identity, Transmitting.
Under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022 which has “come into force at once”, online public defamation has also been made a cognisable and a non-bailable offence. The Minimum penalty for such acts is imprisonment and fines up to 2 years and Rs. 2000, respectively. The punishment for any of the above crimes may be up to five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs. 5000 for repeat (second-time) offenders. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the lead federal agency for investigating cyber attacks. A Cyber Crime Court in the capital awarded on Wednesday a total of 10 years’ imprisonment to a foreign national and two Pakistanis. The court sentenced a Nigerian national Iroko Mercy, Jeff Jack More and two Pakistanis Daud Ghouri and Raja Asad and imposed a total fine of Rs1.1 million each and in case of non-payment the accused will have to undergo an additional eight months each in jail.
Cybercrime is criminal activity that either targets or uses a computer, a computer network or a networked device. Most cybercrime is committed by cybercriminals or hackers who want to make money. However, occasionally cybercrime aims to damage computers or networks for reasons other than profit.