Government blocks 13,000 obscene websites: Official

Khan proposes formation of a Ministerial Committee and a sub-committee to look into the matter.


February 09, 2012

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Secretary for Information Technology, Nawab Liaqat Ali Khan informed the National Assembly on Thursday that the government had blocked 13,000 obscene websites on the internet.

Recently, the judiciary and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) took action against porn websites by blocking or banning access to them in the country, following multiple petitions filed by the citizenry.

"It is a serious issue and we are trying to address it," said the IT parliamentary secretary, while replying to a Calling Attention Notice, adding that the government was mindful of the situation.

Hence when asked about what steps were being taken to block such websites, Khan said that these websites were operating from outside and so action could not be taken against them nor could they be penalized.

However he maintained that the government is utilising all available resources to counter this challenge.

Khan also proposed the formation of a Ministerial Committee and a sub-committee to look into the matter. Expressing concern over the rapid increase in obscene websites, he said, “At present the government has no mechanism to block all of these websites and are trying to devise a mechanism, however, we take action on complaints.”

He quoted the example of China and India who have installed a costly Automated Filtration System, which could also block anti-government websites, but clarified that that this system, if installed, would still be unable to block all such websites.

COMMENTS (29)

HINA | 12 years ago | Reply

No doubt it's a good step , but protecting the youth from pornography and wat about all the liqour shops opened in many areas??? This govt really needs to wake up !!!

Alami Musafir | 12 years ago | Reply

@ Akhtar Let us put the matter to the test. Let us conduct regular scientific surveys which quantify and catalogue sex crimes, especially against children, nationwide. And if these increase as a result of the shutting off of porn websites and like measures, then the authorities who put these measures in place, and are consequently responsible for the increases in such crimes should be proportionately punished, with prison sentences and such like. Conversely, if such crimes go down, they should be rewarded with cash and such like. Fair enough ?

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