ISLAMABAD: The case against PTI Information Secretary Rauf Hasan under the PICA Act has sparked a new debate on the political and legal front.
In the wide world of Internet, how will the special courts set up for trial against digital crimes work, the authorities and officers have authority to investigate these crimes in Pakistan, the details have come out.
Under the PICA Act, the Federal Investigation Agency and the police will be empowered to prosecute any criminal involved in digital crimes.
After registering a digital crime case, the police will be bound to refer the case to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for technical opinion and investigation, while an inspector-rank officer will investigate the case.
In case of formation of joint investigation team by the federal or provincial government, the JIT will consist of 5 officers including officers from all agencies up to grade 18. The federal and provincial governments may set up one or more digital crime investigation teams.
The Digital Crimes Joint Investigation Team or Investigating Officer shall be bound to complete the investigation against the accused within 45 days of hearing the cases by the court.
Cases against digital crimes will be tried in special courts to be set up by the federal government in consultation with the concerned chief justice, while the federal government, in consultation with the chief justice of the concerned high court, will appoint judges of computer sciences, cyber forensics, Will arrange special training related to electronic transactions and data protection.
The Courts constituted under the PICA Act, taking notice of a case, shall proceed with the hearing of the case on a weekly basis and shall decide the case within three months, failing which the matter shall be brought to the notice of the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned. I will be brought for proper instructions.
