Pakistan

LHC seeks PTA stance on permanent ban on Facebook

The LHC has sought the stance of Pakistan Telecommunications Authority on a permanent ban on Facebook.

Express July 27, 2010

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought the stance of Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) on a permanent ban on Facebook.

A petition was filed in the Lahore High Court, seeking a permanent ban on Facebook on Monday. The petition is being taken by Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry.

The petitioner prayed that Facebook might be permanently blocked in Pakistan for placing objectionable and blasphemous caricatures.

Facebook had already faced an interim ban in the country for holding a competition for blasphemous caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

A petition had also been field for the banning of 17 websites for alleged blasphemous content. The Bahawalpur bench of the Lahore High Court however cancelled its orders for the ban on seventeen websites following a court hearing.

A draft of the PTA’s new system and rules regarding blockage of websites was recently leaked online.

COMMENTS (56)

Manzoor chandio | 14 years ago | Reply Facebook bad site az it has bad page on President Asif Ali Zardari. it bad, it shud ban in Pakistan.

mohammad javaid | 14 years ago | Reply The whole discussion about banning a particular site should be considered in a global manner.We cannot ban all the sites where the objectionable material appears for a society. There is a system in our country that we donot allow anybody to enter without the passport , so why donot we systematise that objectionable materials on our television,internet is not allowed. I understand in Saudi Arabia(somebody need to confirm if this is a fact) the objectional material like pron material is not allowed on the internet and firewalls for such material propogation is installed by the concerned department (like PTA in Pakistan) by a law globally instituted by our parliament. . Let us clean up our internet and the television which is propogating the 'obscenity' of others which our society does not accept. there

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Saira | 14 years ago | Reply @Masoor Khalid. We r all following the policy of English "Divide and rule". Khuda ke liay, we should appretiate the lawyer who is still live in this world and fighting against zionists. Atleast we should appretiate him. He had no personal agenda. What he is doing, he is bound by his religions to protect Islam. We all come forward and support him.

Saira | 14 years ago | Reply @Yasmeen. Bravo! One should speak truth rather defending the other cause. Dear All, Follow the comments posted by Yasmeen. Face the truth. Don't led your head down. You had a history Muslims. Follow your history. You had the ability to bow down everybody in this world.

shy | 14 years ago | Reply Every thing has good or bad,try to adopt good and ignore bad.build your own characters and follow the prophet pbuh,he liked tolerance for everyone.

Mansoor Khalid | 14 years ago | Reply Mr. ZYZ whoever he is who have initiated this petition, needs to get back to his senses. We cannot live in isolation and by blocking such social websites we will not do any good to ourselves.

Asad | 14 years ago | Reply Why blame mullahs and Taliban ? Don't we have any obligation towards our religion and for the greatest man to live on the surface of the earth ?? We claim Jannah and strive for Jannah and here we are encouraging others to insult our saviour. Without the teaching of our beloved Prophet, most of us would have destined for HELL. Allah almighty has clearly said that no one qualifies for Jannah unless the Holy Prophet and Allah Almighty are dearest to them, even more then ones parents and children. We can not bear the insult of any one we love but are encouraging the media that is desperate to make fun of our prophet. Should we not think, Why they nominate our Prophet for this ? I think it is because we start a lot of communication due to which some one gains profits or we come out on streets and start destroying our own property and this pleases them or they have some other agenda ? Should we be the source of profit or tool for some ones wromg desires ???? We need to think with clear mindset and deal with the issue wisely. Destruction is not the soulution but boycott offcourse is.

Rahmat Bano | 14 years ago | Reply @yasmeen: If one loves Islam, one should follow its teachings in the true spirit intended and not whats preached by ignorant clerics. Our holy Prophet (PBUH) was Rahmat lil Alameen and he did not punish anyone for blasphemy. See what he did for the people of Taif or the woman who threw dust and garbage on him. We should follow the footsteps the holy Prophet (PBUH). We should also improve our own lot, so that the West cannot cannot afford to be blasphemous. Please pray to God to give us the required strength and the directions to achieve this objective.

Anwar | 14 years ago | Reply Ridiculous...LHC should delivering justice to people not waste their time in these thing...

Mohammad Azhar Siddique | 14 years ago | Reply Now It is time for all nations and countries to realize fact, That Muslims are under a media war after 9/11, There should be a fact finding commission of world community to fix responsibility of that incident. We as Muslims are very peaceful people and never hate or hurt any one without any reason. We are people with values, respect and emotions, Our religion teach us to help and protect rights of all, There are very few numbers who could be different in thinking so but that might be because of lack of knowledge and teaching of Islam. The most successful system of living is given by Quran, and there are number of countries who have adopted the same system and are successful. Omer law which is adopted by many countries. We are very potential people, loyal and sincere, Treat us with respect and there will be a changed world. Violence never ends violence. There should be a point of returning and realizing what wrong happening is, we wish all world remain in peace and every one remains safe. Do not hurt anyone believe and religious personalities, I don’t feel any reasonable and respectable person can do so, and even any society can accept such person who spreads hate among people. Being the largest power of world, America should come out as role model. It is now a global world and we all are share holders, How can body be in peace if any part is hurt and bleeding. It is one body, realize it. Is there any example that any Muslim has done such activity for any religious personality any where, Coz we respect and expect that whole world will recognize that It is not Muslims has any enmity with any race or any nation, it is some other community. It has to be find out and STOP Hurting Millions and Millions of peaceful people. Is this freedom of expression under Article XIX?

yasmeen | 14 years ago | Reply FACE BOOK should be BANNED!! why should a social networking site mock any religion???? what does such a site achieve by doing so?? besides enraging and offending millions of people!! CHRISTIANITY,JUDAISM if any of these religions were MOCKED, do you think the followers of these religions would just grin and bear it all and say HEY its OK just carry on! NO because any true believer wouldn´t. If one loves Islam then mockery of the beloved prophet (pbuh)should not be taken lightly, the website should be boycotted by the many millions of Muslims, but of course in todays hypocritical era many are Muslims by name alone, who talk about liberalism and freedom of expression. The burning question is where does one begin to cross the line calling it freedom of expression and causing great offense. (@JC moola....what has the truth got to do with drawing blasphemous pictures???? grow up and preferably grow some brain cells whilst your at it!) (@Hina agha....its not about protecting our youth it about standing up for what you believe in!)

Ghausia | 14 years ago | Reply Oh please, lets keep our glorious porn which probably our government official enjoy, and our truly blasphemous websites, which makes even a liberal, semi-agnostic, secular individual like me cringe. Please, don't ban those, target the social networking websites just so people aren't exposed to people around the world and have the opportunity to learn that the world is not filled with Islam/Pakistan haters. God forbid that should happen, how else will the government fuel our anti-West rage at supposed Muslim mistreatment in the West?

Mohammed Abbasi | 14 years ago | Reply This is what happens when mullahs get loose in a modern nation

Asaad Ali | 14 years ago | Reply The right way of dealing with blasphemous contents is to explain and manifest to the West the high stature of our Holy Prophet (PBUH). Explanations should be through emails, letters and personal representations. Manifestations can only be through personal example, because the West see our Holy Prophet (PBUH) based on our behavior. Likes of Faisal Shahzad do not help our cause. Lastly we forget the power of prayers and invoking God's help in dealing with such offensive material.

Anwar Ahmad | 14 years ago | Reply @Imran and all If you find any page blasphemous/offensive, please take sometime to report the page as abusive.

zubair | 14 years ago | Reply Dear All, let's grow up and face the relaties. You had the ability to establish your own network of web sites like face book. why we are intersted in face book only? For God sake supporting one wrong cause, which according to zionist under the garb of freedom of speach is infact admission of our weakness. Muslims are always on the dominating position and every religion is copying the teaching of islam and acting upon it. We being a Mulslim only interst in all un-islamic thoughts. Please grow up. If I humiliate our mother, father, sister, should we kept silent. Not at all. All of us who are taking insult of our Holy Prophet, Holy Quran, Holy Kaaba as a normal routine matter, I thinks they are non-Musli, so, they have no right to remain Muslim. Those persons who are insluting the Holy feelings, they should adopt the right way of Freedom of Speach rather finding these immoral acts

M Mustafa | 14 years ago | Reply Facebook is an excellent tool for spreading the peaceful message of Islam. The mis-guided surf blasphemous pages, the enlightened spread 'The Message'. Each according to his capacity and capability.

naqash | 14 years ago | Reply Aslamu alaikum it is good that facebook have been blocked. because we cannot bear any insult about our Holy Prophet(PBUH)....

JC Moola | 14 years ago | Reply Everybody Draw Muhammed Day, the contest etc... All these are great sites and carry truth related to Muslims

Malik | 14 years ago | Reply Opening blasphemous pages is a voluntary, conscious and a deliberate effort. The pages do not open up on there own. The petitioner has in fact alerted and raised the curiosity of millions of readers and surfers to see these pages. He has aided in spreading the blasphemous material. The trial in the Lahore High Court is further advertising it. The West is our rival on the ideological front, rivals do such things, but friends do not their wash rivals' dirty laundry in our own drawing rooms.

zahid | 14 years ago | Reply world is a global city to respect each community in this global is our social and moral duty otherwise no way to collide with each other and destoray the world peace.

Majid | 14 years ago | Reply The first thing that came to my mind reading this was; "Not Again!!", but then I did some research and found out, the reason this time, for banning is quite serious, have a look at these sites and decide for yourself; (http://loganswarning.com/2010/07/13/us-church-starts-international-burn-a-koran-day/) (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2559009/posts) If this happens, and facebook becomes a platform for it, then personally I'm more than happy to have facebook banned forever!!

Tariq | 14 years ago | Reply The world is full offensive material. Why read that. In the 1800s Muslims shunned modern education after the decline of their power in India. Hindus did not. Who gained, take a guess, but no points for guessing right. Today internet provides access to a whole treasure of information and convenience. If we shut ourselves to it; whose loss will it be? Take a guess.

Sumbul A | 14 years ago | Reply i wish they would concentrate on the REAL issues of Pakistan.

Rabi Faisal Mughal | 14 years ago | Reply y r thy after facebook only lolx dont thy ve any other wrk to do?? btw blocking sites n showing back to the non believers isnt any solution...as it is said by allah to spread islam by tabligh nt by swords...so be polite n impress the non believers by inviting them towards wt thy making fun of...regards,,,Rmughal...x

Bibi | 14 years ago | Reply @Imran, Please stop spreading and advertising blasphemous pages and sites! Persons popularizing blasphemous material should be prosecuted under section 295-C PPC.

Hina Agha | 14 years ago | Reply Banning Facebook today, other sites tomorrow and some more later is not the answer to protect our youth in particular and public in general from the evils of the internet. We cannot afford to lose out on the innumerable advantages and benefits of the internet. How much and how far can we protect ourselves? From a very early stage of life we teach our children the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, truth and deception. Once they get their basic values right, no Facebook, no Satanic Verses and no foreign propaganda is going to influence them. It is our job to instill the right values in our children, pray to God to show them the right path and then trust them to grow up to be mature sensible human beings.

H Saqib | 14 years ago | Reply It is very easy to brand anything as Zionist plot and reject it. Like some people reject democracy and tolerance as Zionist. Read this story also: link text

Uchiha | 14 years ago | Reply I'm sorry but the information that Facebook is pro-zionist is false in my opinion. There are pages on facebook which clearly detest Israel and you can find them by typing "We hate Israel" in your facebook search bar. And in addition to that, Facebook isnt pro-jewish either. For reference see below or search the internet for "Facebook Holocaust Denial." http://www.briancuban.com/open-letter-to-facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg/ And Allah knows best!

Ben | 14 years ago | Reply Why does LHC not ban the entire Internet and foreign newspapers. These things will keep happening and those people will keep provoking. The government or the LHC should not fall into the Zionist trap. Facebook is otherwise a very valuable resource for so many things including your evaluation for the job you ahve applied for. Please read this story: link text

Imran | 14 years ago | Reply Alert:- Protest against Face Book: Why the managment of FaceBook is silent of this issue? We should lodged protest against blasphemeous, insulting, objectionable, adious, abnoxious, hateful material like as placed on following pages- Everybody Burn Quran Day 128549677181291 Kaaba Photos returns 103341869716819 Is this freedom of expression under Article XIX?

M.shahbaz butt | 14 years ago | Reply LHC please also ban the adult web sites and other adult material

Qirat | 14 years ago | Reply One click and you are on Facebook. Second click and you are on a page of your choice. Its voluntary and a conscious considered decision to click where you want to go, the petitioner chose to go to a blasphemous page. The petitioner should be prosecuted on two accounts, one for clicking a offensive page and then letting millions of other people known that such a page exists.

Iftikhar Khan | 14 years ago | Reply This is rediculous. How can they do that??? Why they don't ban the other blasphemous & adult websites? Facebook is the best website on the internet, its a way of communication throughout the world. We just love Facebook & will strongly oppose this decission.

sagi | 14 years ago | Reply if there's a need of a ban to be placed .. it should be on this 'petitioner' who keeps doing this ..

Sana | 14 years ago | Reply LHC, please grow up. Have you lawyers lost all creativity? Is this the only attention-seeking method left? Facebook? Seriously? Shouldn't LHC be banning sites with indecent, vulgar and pornographic content as well?

Hamza Baloch | 14 years ago | Reply If it ban, than i think tribune should publish this newss, its wrong and dis information to publish such kind of news. And this is not the 1st time, about 17 sites petition, express already act the same way, but the decision was different.

Shahzad Ahmad | 14 years ago | Reply I wish to condemn the role of LHC and this advocate, whom LHC failed to dig his ulterior motives... Such a shame!!!1

akram | 14 years ago | Reply Shame on us. If some body commends on your mother, father, wife or children, all of you the modern generation should keep them silent. This is basically an attempt to defame your religions and your are silent. it seems that you are non-muslim.

Imran | 14 years ago | Reply I do agree with Saif. One should first see the matter and than comend. Of couse FaceBook is good dating site. One should remember that your liberty ends where the nose of other starts. Why issue related to other religions are not pasted in this facebook, espcially the zionists and christians. Why it is only meant for Islam? Are we not bound to observe the directions issued by the Holy Quran and binding on us.

Saif | 14 years ago | Reply A first look at this matter reflects that this platform should not be banned, but if we look into the matter more deeply; it should be banned!

Ghausia | 14 years ago | Reply Whatever, I'm not going to stay in a country where there's so much oppression of free speech, our government's filled with illiterate morons with fake degrees, any country would be better than Pakistan right now, I'm outta here, I've had enough of this stupidity. Thank you government for alienating me from my own country. Way to go. Can you people do ANYTHING right?

Naveed Babar | 14 years ago | Reply Ridiculous !

Tahir | 14 years ago | Reply Ban is proper solution as no compromise on Islam. Fond Of Social platform should reconsider their opinion in true perspective of religion rather their personal feelings. We solute lahore High court for taking aright step in right direction.

shy | 14 years ago | Reply BAN is not good.Are judiciary is deaf and dumb about naked and unethical add on various Pakistani channels.

M.shahbaz butt | 14 years ago | Reply its very easy to say that "banning the facebook" but in my opion its very difficult for PTA to ban the facebook because it generate profit for them so this petition will be ignored by LHC. and if PTA or any other want to stop the blasphemy against our Prophet PBUH then they should ban the Porn Sites who play a big rule for blasphemy. if PTA or LHC are trying to clean Pakistan from these sites then they should ban facebook, Porn sites,movies and all other material like this.

Azeem | 14 years ago | Reply when will this nonsense stop.

Anwar Ahmad | 14 years ago | Reply Honourable court should either o Pull the plug OR o Put petitioner away for sometime to let us live in peace. BTW cell phones, cable TV and Radio, Cassettes, VCR/DVD should also be banned just in case. Good bye global village. Welcome Talibanization via LHC.

Sana N | 14 years ago | Reply Dont they have thieves, rapists, frauds and other criminals to deal with? Oh wait, they cant because those make up the Govt!

Hunain Ali | 14 years ago | Reply I am forced to think that it is not the government but LHC who is running the country !! Ridiculous !

mussarat ahmedzeb swat | 14 years ago | Reply LHC should waste it energy on delivering justice to people and work on cleaning corruption.

mehdi shahi | 14 years ago | Reply why to ban face book which bring ppl close fm far flung areas.a good connecting tool. ban those and bring those to book against their bad deeds who are involved in such a kind of works .this is not the solution.there are ppl who dont believe in god even. do we kill them? profit MUHAMMAD PBUH was pelted by stones but he never ordered to kill or take revenge against those people.

munib | 14 years ago | Reply satanic verses**

munib | 14 years ago | Reply I think things like TECHNOLOGY INTERNET etc. are not for us. I fully support ban on FB and even internet. Lets also burn all the libraries in PAK because Static verses might just creep in somewhere and some anti-NATIONAL SECURITY article might be published in a newspaper so all newspapers should also be banned. In an age of information this was the best possible suggestion to further throw PAKISTAN into the stone ages. I think we dont deserve information and knowledge at all. People like Ijaz ahmad are a great blessing for saving us from the evils of knowledge and wisdom. Lets burn all books and close schools and welcome TALIBANS from within.

Mohammad Nawaz | 14 years ago | Reply This is ridiculous. Facebook is a platform, like all other websites and blogs. Why blame it or such other platforms for putting up caricatures? Yes, it has a double standard, it allows what its people deem right, and it so happens that caricatures that portray Islam negatively or mock it are among their favorites it seems. However, its a publishing platform, and people are those that post the material, not Facebook itself. People need to understand that there is a big difference between an automated publisher, and the people who publish. Its not the same. I wonder if anyone in the LHC actually consult an expert who is knowledgeable about the field / industry in question at all. I respect the court, but unfortunately the people who run the court seem out of their minds all the time.

Bilal Hussain | 14 years ago | Reply Insane!

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