Death Penalties for Cyber-Terrorism – Part of Law Now

This news report that appeared in “Daily Times” today (November 7th, 2008) – appears to be another interesting outcome of Government; as this “Prevention of Electronic Crimes Ordinance” is effective from September 29, however, the government just got late in announcing it.

Don’t get worried, my readers, In fact this story is not for everyone, because it says death penalties to those only, who are involved in Terrorism act, being carried away through computers and internet. Furthermore, death penalty is limited to an offense that ‘Causes death of any person’.

“Whoever commits the offense of cyber terrorism and causes death of any person shall be punishable with death or imprisonment for life, and with fine,” the new law states. In other cases, “he shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years, or with fine not less than Rs 10 million, or with both”.

“Any person, group or organization who, with terroristic intent, utilizes, accesses or causes to be accessed a computer or computer network or electronic system or electronic device or by any available means, and thereby knowingly engages in or attempts to engage in a terrorist act commits the offense of cyber terrorism.”

‘Terroristic intent’ has been defined as: “To act with the purpose to alarm, frighten, disrupt, harm, damage, or carry out an act of violence against any segment of the population, the government or entity associated therewith”.

“Aiding the commission of or attempting to aid the commission of an act of violence against the sovereignty of Pakistan, whether or not the commission of such act of violence is actually completed; or stealing or copying, or attempting to steal or copy, or secure classified information or data necessary to manufacture any form of chemical, biological or nuclear weapon, or any other weapon of mass destruction also includes cyber terrorism,” states the ordinance.

Fraud, stalking, spamming: Criminal access to an electronic system will be punishable with up to two years in prison and a Rs 300,000 fine, according to the ordinance. Criminal data or system damage is punishable with up to three years.

Electronic fraud will be punishable with up to seven years of imprisonment and/or fine, ‘misuse’ of electronic systems with up to three years, unauthorized access to code with up to three years, and producing malicious code with up to five years.

Cyber stalking is punishable with up to seven years in prison and a Rs 100,000 fine, and up to 10 years if the victim is a minor.

Spamming will be punishable with up to a Rs 50,000 fine for the first offense, and three months in prison for subsequent offenses.

We are trying to bring in actual content of the draft, as we are not sure if this ordinance is the same one or not that was prepared by Musharraf’s Government – which may give us a clear definition of cyber terrorist. This law will also permit security agencies to enter any house and seize computer systems.

It merits mentioning here that Cyber Crime Law was introduced back in January 2008 by President Musharraf.

We hope that this “Unique Worldwide” law will not be abused by law enforcment agencies and government officials for their own interests.

Tech and telecom reporter for over 15 years


  • i wonder what the law makers are doing, few months ago it was in news that death personality is not in law anymore…
    this is just for their own excuses…
    nothing to do with common man… judiciary is in such a poor state already.. what can be expected about law…

  • if you read the law correctly you will come to know that if you system crash by it self or by any other mean this is also law breaking. And you cant use any encryption either like no more putty like putty also work with ssl and ssh i am wondering the people who actually pass the bill knows what he is doing. If you read that law more you will be amazed the knowledge level of over law making people. Peace

  • fish man the more i read about this the more i get bad felling about it. Dam Dam Dam. now if any one i say anyone send me mail about anything i am gona sow him for 50k :D kidding thats also in this low so-called law they can get us by law but internet world is mine and they cant beat us do they in this.

  • Speaking of terrorism:

    George W. Bush committed hate crimes of epic proportions and with the stench of terrorism (indicated in my blog).

    George W. Bush did in fact commit innumerable hate crimes.

    And I do solemnly swear by Almighty God that George W. Bush committed other hate crimes of epic proportions and with the stench of terrorism which I am not at liberty to mention.

    Many people know what Bush did.

    And many people will know what Bush did—even to the end of the world.

    Bush was absolute evil.

    Bush is now like a fugitive from justice.

    Bush is a psychological prisoner.

    Bush has a lot to worry about.

    Bush can technically be prosecuted for hate crimes at any time.

    In any case, Bush will go down in history in infamy.

    Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
    B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
    Messiah College, Grantham, PA
    Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993

    “GEORGE W. BUSH IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN U.S. HISTORY” BLOG OF ANDREW YU-JEN WANG
    ______________________
    I am not sure where I had read it before, but anyway, it is a linguistically excellent statement, and it goes kind of like this: “If only it were possible to ban invention that bottled up memory so it never got stale and faded.” Oh wait—off of the top of my head—I think the quotation came from my Lower Merion High School yearbook.


  • Get Alerts

    Follow ProPakistani to get latest news and updates.


    ProPakistani Community

    Join the groups below to get latest news and updates.



    >