PESHAWAR: Police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Nowshera district claimed on Monday to have arrested an alleged offender of the cybercrime bill who blackmailed women on social media.
“29-year-old Mehranullah used to blackmail women on Facebook by uploading fake videos,” the Nowshera DPO told the private TV channel. The suspect gave out names of 15 of his accomplices who were involved in blackmailing victims on social media, the DPO said. Police also claimed to have recovered a pistol and a mobile phone from the possession of the accused. Further, a case under the recently approved cybercrime bill has been registered against the suspect.
The controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill (PECB) 2015 was approved earlier this month by the National Assembly despite the fact that opposition parties, including Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf and Muttahida Quami Movement had strongly condemned certain sections of the bill. The sections, the parties said, could be used to curb freedom of expression. The Senate had, last month, unanimously passed the controversial bill after incorporating eight new amendments. A Senate standing committee had proposed 47 amendments to the bill passed earlier by the lower house on April 13.
The PECB seeks punishment for facilitating hate speech, cyber terrorism, illegal issuance of cellular SIM cards and electronic fraud. It makes unauthorised access to sensitive infrastructure and information systems punishable with five years in jail and a fine of up to Rs5 million. Copy or transfer of data without permission may send a person to jail for a period of up to six months and a fine of Rs0.1 million. Illegal access to data is punishable by three-month imprisonment and a fine of Rs50,000 as per the bill.
