Acts of cyber terrorism in Pakistan can be punished with a death sentence or life imprisonment and cyber stalkers can be given a seven-year prison term under a new law.

Under the Cyber Crimes Ordinance, issued on December 31, last year, the Government will set up special IT tribunals in Islamabad and the four provincial capitals to investigate and counter cyber crimes.

“The ordinance outlines knowledge about electronic crimes and illegal on-line intrusion to spread it among the general public,” Caretaker Information Technology Minister Abdullah Riar said here on Thursday.

The law covers cyber terrorism and stalking, criminal data access, electronic fraud and forgery, misuse of electronic systems or electronic devices, unauthorised access to codes, misuse of encryption, malicious code, spamming and unauthorised interception.

The ordinance also states that electronic fraud and forgery will be punished with a non-bailable prison term of seven years.