NA unanimously passes Cybercrime Bill 2015

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The National Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill (PECB) 2015 after the Senate’s unanimous adoption of the bill in July. A session of Senate’s Information Technology Committee had recommended up to 14-year imprisonment and Rs five million fine for cyber terrorism. Child pornography has been made non-bailable offence. The one who will post a picture of anyone without permission or will send indecent messages would also be sent to jail for one year along with Rs one million fine. Fake SIMs holders would also face three-year imprisonment and Rs 500,000 fine whereas tempering of stolen mobile phones was also declared crime with Rs one million fine and three-year in jail. Earlier, opposition parties, including PPP, PTI and MQM, strongly condemned certain sections of the bill, which, according to them could curb the freedom of expression.