PTA to monitor all telecom, cyber traffic

[Naveed Yaseen]

LAHORE: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has drafted a plan to monitor all telecommunication traffic, including landlines, mobile services and emails, a private TV channel reported on Monday.

According to the channel, a code of conduct has been finalised and a draft had also been displayed on the PTA website. The PTA has also urged stakeholders to give recommendations by September 16.

Ports and Shipping State Minister Nabeel Gabol said the step was being taken to keep an eye on anti-state elements. He said the civil liberties of the people granted by the constitution of the country would not be affected. Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Haider Abbas Rizvi said his party would not support the proposed plan in parliament.

President Asif Ali Zardari on September 29, 2008 had passed the Prevention of electronic Crimes Ordinance (PECO). According to this law, all powers have been given to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the one who will involve in such crime will be punished with death or imprisonment with heavy fines. The fine can be Rs 10 million and the period of imprisonment can be 3 month to 10 years whereas one could appeal in the high court or the Supreme Court. In May, Interior Minister Rehman Malik had directed the FIA to crack down on unscrupulous elements involved in cyber crime, particularly the misuse of short message service (SMS).

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_4