Islamabad: In the light of orders by Islamabad High Court earlier this year, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom, MOITT has proposed the incorporation of six new clauses in the 2016 Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act, including those related to pornography and blasphemy through amendment bill.
According to the copy of Draft amendment available with Digital Rights Monitor, the new amendment proposes two to four years imprisonment against production and dissemination of pornography online (22 A), life imprisonment for desecrating Holy Quran through information system (27 B) and death sentence for blasphemy against Holy Prophet (27 C).
A number of new offenses have also been proposed.
These include dissemination of content outraging religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs (27A). Use of derogatory remarks, etc. in respect of holy personages such as Prophet’s wives or his family members and companions of Holy Prophet, (27D), Misuse of epithets, descriptions and titles etc, reserved for certain holy personages and places (27 E), Person of Qadiani group calling himself Muslim or preaching or propagating his faith (27 F) and falsely accusing person of committing offences mentioned in 27 C and 27 D (27 G).
A table of offenses and punishments proposed in the amendment are listed below:
|
Clause No. |
Offenses |
Punishment |
| 22 A (1) | Production and offer of sale of Pornography | Imprisonment for a term which may extend up to four years imprisonment and fine up to three million rupees |
| 22 A (2) | Distribution of Pornography | Imprisonment for up to three years and fine up to two million rupees fine |
| 27 A | Dissemination of content outraging religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs | Up to Ten years imprisonment or with fine or both |
| 27 B | Defiling, etc. copy of Holy Quran | Imprisonment for life |
| 27 C | Blasphemy in respect of Holy Prophet PBUH | Capital punishment and liable to fine |
| 27 D | Use of derogatory remarks, etc. in respect of holy personages such as Prophet’s wives or his family members and companions of Holy Prophet | Imprisonment up to three years or with fine or both |
| 27 E | Misuse of epithets, descriptions, and titles etc, reserved for certain holy personages and places | Up to three years imprisonment and liable to fine |
| 27 F | Person of Qadiani group calling himself Muslim or preaching or propagating his faith | Up to three years and liable to fine |
| 27 G | Falsely accusing a person of committing offenses mentioned in 27 C and 27 D | Same punishment as in 27 C and 27 D |
It’s important to mention here that Qadiani is a derogatory term used to refer to the Ahmadi community.
