PIPS organized a public hearing on prevention of cyber crimes bills for Senator Karim Khwaja. Objective of this special public hearing was to highlight the significance of cybercrime laws in Pakistan as well as to evaluate their constitutional parameters and their compatibility with other substantive and special criminal and civil laws and procedure in Pakistan. Senator Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, Leader of the Opposition chaired the session while Senator Farhatullah Babar; Senator Karim Ahmed Khawaja; Dr. Nadia Khadim, Assistant Professor Law, Bahria University; Ms. Fareiha Aziz, Director, Bolo Bhi; and Ms. Ameena Sohail, Member (Legal), Ministry of Information Technology were panellists who highlighted the significance of cybercrime laws in Pakistan in addition to discussion on proposed legislation. 

Other honourable parliamentarians including, Senator Mr. Shahi Syed, Chairperson Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication; Mrs. Shazia Marri, Member National Assembly; Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo; Senator Mr. Kamil Ali Agha; Senator Mr. Mushahid Hussain Syed; and Senator Mr. Muhammad Javed Abbasi specially participated in the discussion and gave feedback to improve the proposed bill. Officers from concerned Ministries, Academicians Print/Electronic Media, Members of Civil Society and all stakeholders actively participated in the said hearing and raised concerns on the proposed bill i.e., The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2015 and Protection of Cyber Crimes Act, 2014. The event was concluded with valuable inputs from civil society, concerned ministries and IT experts in the Prevention of Cyber Crime Bills for attaining pragmatic, feasible and comprehensive cyber laws in Pakistan.Mr Muhammad Aslam Waseem, Additional Director Legislation hosted the public hearing organized by Institute’s legislation wing.