Sindh government to ban Skype, Viber, WhatsApp for 3 months

Other services including WhatsApp and Tango to be blocked as well for security reasons.


Web Desk October 03, 2013
Decision taken for security reasons during meeting with Sindh CM. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to ban instant messaging and voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) clients Skype, Viber and other communication networks, possibly including Tango and WhatsApp, for three months in the province for security reasons, Express News reported on Thursday.

The decision was taken during a meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and other officials including the additional IG Karachi, DG Rangers and representatives of intelligence agencies.

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon confirmed the decision in a press briefing. He said that the networks would be banned because terrorists are using them, having switched over from regular mobile services. Memon said the Sindh government has also requested the federal government to contact these companies and ask them for "access".

This is not the first time communication services have been blocked in the name of security. A number of temporary cellular service blocks were implemented in 2013 by the government as an anti-terrorism measure.

In 2011,  the government ordered all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to discontinue all virtual private network (VPN) services in Pakistan to prevent extremists from using the secure networks for communication. It is unclear whether this order was fully implemented.

News of the upcoming blockage comes the same day as Freedom House, an independent watchdog organisation, launched a report ranking Pakistan among the bottom 10 countries on net freedom.

The report stated that various political and social obstacles to net freedom have been put in place by successive governments in the name of fighting terrorism.

In blocking these services, Pakistan follows in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia, where Viber is banned.

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COMMENTS (141)

Haider | 11 years ago | Reply

So stupid.

They should use the ip addresses to locate these supposed terrorists. Instead they are now pushing them into using proxies which will make it near impossible to backtrace them.

secondly these terrorists using skype is so dumb I mean come on these terrorists must be real dumb or pakistan needs some it specialist in their terrorist catching department

Unless it's all about the money

jiya | 11 years ago | Reply

pakistani government always took steps which kills poor people. they cant stop terrorism by putting ban on vib. sab paisay bnanay k tarreqay hain

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