Hajra Naz
Proposed Changes to Cybercrime Law
A bill that would adjust Pakistan’s cybercrime laws was displayed to the National Assembly on Wednesday. The Anticipation of Electronic Violations (Amendment) Bill, 2025’s notable highlights are as follows:
Prison Terms for Disinformation
A punishment of up to three a long time of imprisonment or a fine of Rs. 2 million for spreading false data aiming to affect fear or unrest.
Creation of Modern Investigative and Regulatory Authorities
- The FIA’s Cybercrime Wing will be broken up, and replaced by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
- Establishment of a Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority to manage social media stages and guarantee client rights protection.
- Formation of a Social Media Complaint Council and a Social Media Protection Tribunal for tending to grievances and implementing the law.
- Formation of a Social Media Complaint Council and a Social Media Protection Tribunal for addressing grievances and enforcing the law.
Powers of the New Authority
The proposed Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority will have the following powers:
- Content Regulation: Blocking content against the ideology of Pakistan or targeting institutions like the judiciary, armed forces, and parliament.
- Platform Oversight: Enlisting and regulating all social media platforms, with penalties for non-compliance, including temporary or permanent bans.
- Blocking Unlawful Content: Removing statements from banned organizations or individuals and preventing reuploads of deleted parliamentary proceedings.
- User Protection: Facilitating affected individuals to report violations within 24 hours.
The authority will contain nine individuals, including the interior secretary, PTA chairman, and Pemra chairman. It will be driven by a chairman with a least bachelor’s degree or 15 a long time of encounter.
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Creation of a Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA)
The NCCIA will be tasked with investigating illegal social media activities. Its director general will serve for a three-year term, and officers will have police-equivalent powers.
Establishment of the Social Media Tribunal
A tribunal, chaired by a former high court judge and including a journalist and software engineer, will handle cases. Choices can be requested by the Supreme Court within 60 days.
Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC)
In development to the cybercrime law, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has shown corrections to the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), centring on:
- Simplified FIR filing processes.
- Provisions to curb false complaints and police misconduct.
- Mandated bail when investigations favor acquittal.
- A one-year trial timeline for criminal cases, with consequences for delays.
- Use of modern technology and devices as evidence.
Protests Erupt Over the Bill’s Introduction
The introduction of the bill was met with intense opposition from PTI lawmakers. Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub Khan attempted to address the assembly but was denied by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, sparking protests. PTI members chanted slogans supporting their founder Imran Khan and tore up copies of the assembly’s agenda.
Other Parliamentary Updates
- The National Assembly passed the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (Implementation) Bill, displayed by Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal.
- Parliamentary Secretary for Energy Aamir Talal Khan declared that 70% of K-Electric feeders are presently load-shedding-free, whereas 30% in high-loss zones still involve blackouts.
This session reflects significant developments in legislative and regulatory reform, along with heated political tensions.
