Adoption of PECB: FIA unit faces existential threat

IT ministry might take away some of NR3C’s powers


Qadeer Tanoli July 04, 2016
NR3C, an entity of FIA dedicated to fighting cyber crime, was constituted in 2007. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: An understaffed response affiliate of the Federal Investigation Agency is facing an existential threat after the National Assembly adopted the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill (PECB).

The bill, which will be presented next before the Senate, clearly calls for setting up an investigation agency with procedural powers for investigation.

Policy making institutions are yet to decide about the future of the National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes (NR3C), which is still active in countering cyber crime-related issues.

Most officials of NR3C believe that the centre would be given the lead role under the new law.

The fate of NR3C, which is struggling to do its job with just 84 employees, is to be decided after the Senate passes the PECB.

NR3C still has four vacant posts, including those of deputy directors law and database, an assistant director investigation and an office superintendent in Islamabad.

FIA officials insisted that only NR3C was qualified to be the investigation agency which should be given the mandate mentioned in the bill passed by the lower house.

According to them, the ministry of information technology might take away partial responsibilities, including forensic and evidence collection, while assigning it the job of investigation to the NR3C.

According to them, stakeholders do not want to hand over unbridled powers to the FIA.

NR3C has prepared a PC-1 for hiring 250 people which would be forwarded to the authorities concerned in a few days. According to sources in FIA, NR3C needs nearly 300 men to deal with the responsibilities it would be given once the PECB becomes a law.

NR3C, an entity of FIA dedicated to fighting cyber crime, was constituted in 2007.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2016.

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