Human rights also important like security

Islamabad :Khawar Mumtaz, former Chairperson, National Commission on Status of Women, has said that security is important but human rights of the people are also important.

Ms Mumtaz was speaking at session on ‘Cyber security and cybercrime in a digital society’ organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute on the second day of 3-day 22nd Sustainable Development Conference on ‘Sustainable Development in a Digital Society’ here Wednesday.

Ms Mumtaz said that major problem was lack of capacity of relevant agency to enforce the law. She said that women complain against harassment but enough is not done. She regretted that in the name of security, citizens are victimised. She also referred to consequent censorship and security of personal data which is applied in adverse manner.

The former NCSW said that we need to think seriously and address the issue of cybercrime. She said that a Karachi professor complained in 2016 and nothing happened till today.

The session also recommended need for a National Cyber Controlling Authority to ensure rights of the people and protect personal data while ensuring maximum security to citizens.

IA Rahman from Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said that imbalances exist between countries and within countries. He said that real challenge is not only how to survive but how to beat their system. The more the oppressors use it, the more desperate they become and if we decide not to surrender, we can succeed.

Dr Rafi Shan from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Cyber Emergency Response Centre, said that there is increase in number and frequency of websites. He said that citizens are free and have the right to Internet but when carriers do not ally with state policy, it is deemed as a threat.

Earlier, Former Finance Minister Sartaj Aziz said that evidence-based research was gaining tract over the years but recently it gained global limelight. The testing and experimental method based on research is providing increasingly better and effective response and impact in development sector due to research-based evidence. Our political system does not allow land reforms and income distribution and this is where skill come in and education ensure their earnings, he maintained.

Anees Jillani, Chairperson, Society for Protection of Rights of Children, said that the Juvenile Justice Act was promulgated in 2000 and later was struck down in 2005 by the Supreme Court. He said that the coordination and clarification of rules was lacking and ministries are shy to engage.

Federal Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul admitted that government Ministers feed on the data that is provided by the scientists and environment experts. She said the government needs input from environment experts and scientists regarding these issues so that they can make policies.

Dr Naeem Ahmed from Karachi University said that Arab Spring is a classic example of the role of use of social media as a tool to facilitate digitally-connected youth in bringing the major political change in the Middle East.

Inshah Malik from Kardan University, Afghanistan, said that Kashmir fares well than many northern regions of India and Pakistan. It also has better social indices like literacy.

Nighat Dad from Digital Rights Foundation said that law is used against human rights. We have Internet shutdowns in Pakistan also and YouTube was banned for three years in Pakistan. She said that Internet is banned in former Fata. Why? And we must question this, she stressed.