Rabbani opposes Digital Rights Protection Authority

ISLAMABAD: Former chairman Senate Raza Rabbani, while opposing and condemning the prime minister’s approval of a draft bill for creating the Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA), said on Thursday in a participatory Federation, the federal government is being burdened by the creation of new authorities such as the DRPA.

“The prime minister has approved a draft bill for amending the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 for the establishment of DRPA but the proposed bill has been drafted without taking people or stakeholders into confidence,” he said in a statement on Thursday. He said the draft bill would have far-reaching consequences as the said authority would advise the government on digital rights-related matters, ensuring responsible use of internet and enforcing regulations. The proposed authority would be able to demand information from involved individuals and witnesses.

He recalled last week, the Ministry of IT had issued an SRO to establish the National Cyber Crime Investigation Authority, whereas such powers were already conferred by the law on FIA. Such duplication being created by the establishment of various authorities is not understandable when the federal government talks about revisiting the National Finance Award (NFC). Instead of creating new authorities, agencies in the federal government and ministries not devolved under the 18th Amendment should be given to the provinces and there should be a restrain on non-productive expenditure by the federal government. Rabbani said the proposed bill, when tabled in parliament, should be sent to the standing committee concerned, which should hold a public hearing on it and invite the provincial governments to ascertain whether such an authority is required to be established or not.