Online censorship: Ministry, PTA issued notice
Petitioner complains of easy access to all kinds of websites.
LAHORE:
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued notice to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and ministry of religious affairs in a petition seeking directions to control circulation of inappropriate content on the internet.
Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan issued this order on Friday and sought para-wise comments from the respondents within four weeks.
The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Fahad Ahmad Siddiqi, said that necessary steps were required for eradication of inappropriate and obscene content online.
Advocate Siddiqi said that Pakistan was an Islamic state whose Constitution stated that all Pakistanis should live their lives in accordance with the fundamental principles and basic concepts of Islam.
He said the Constitution stopped the citizens from all kinds of social evils including gambling, use of illegal drugs and publishing and circulation of obscene connect.
He said it was very easy for children to access and surf all kinds of information online including some unsuitable for them.
Parents and teachers had repeatedly urged the government to introduce filtering devices on the internet that denied access to such sites, but there was no response from the respondents, he said.
He asked the court to direct the Ministry of Telecommunications to ban such websites in Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued notice to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and ministry of religious affairs in a petition seeking directions to control circulation of inappropriate content on the internet.
Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan issued this order on Friday and sought para-wise comments from the respondents within four weeks.
The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Fahad Ahmad Siddiqi, said that necessary steps were required for eradication of inappropriate and obscene content online.
Advocate Siddiqi said that Pakistan was an Islamic state whose Constitution stated that all Pakistanis should live their lives in accordance with the fundamental principles and basic concepts of Islam.
He said the Constitution stopped the citizens from all kinds of social evils including gambling, use of illegal drugs and publishing and circulation of obscene connect.
He said it was very easy for children to access and surf all kinds of information online including some unsuitable for them.
Parents and teachers had repeatedly urged the government to introduce filtering devices on the internet that denied access to such sites, but there was no response from the respondents, he said.
He asked the court to direct the Ministry of Telecommunications to ban such websites in Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.