“Banning any communication sphere is a blatant violation of citizens’ fundamental rights to communications, freedom of expression and access to information,” said Shahzad Ahmad from Bytes for All (B4A), Pakistan, a human rights organisation that focuses on the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for social justice and development in the country.
Pakistan is subject to international laws protecting the right to freedom of expression, in particular Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Ahmed said.
Rights must be respected in the fight against terrorism and cannot be arbitrarily limited, he said, citing UN Security Council Resolution 1456 that calls upon states to “ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law … in particular international human rights, refugee, and humanitarian law.”
The 2010 joint declaration of four international mandates on freedom of expression identified the abuse of the concept of “national security” to impose overly broad restrictions on freedom of expression as a key challenge for this decade, Ahmed said.
This unfortunately continues to be the case in Pakistan, he added.
Did the service suspension help?
Eidul Fitr
The first major service suspension this year was on Eidul Fitr and the Chand Raat preceding it, on August 19 and 20. Services were suspended for 10 to 12 hours in four major cities — Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Multan.
The shutdown covered more than 30% of the market of active subscribers on a day where voice and data traffic on cellular networks is 20 times its regular levels. No terrorism incident took place on those days.
Love for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Day
On September 21, the government announced a public holiday to commemorate the Love for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Day, and ordered telecom operators to suspend services in 15 major cities. Services for more than 40 to 50% of total subscribers were suspended from noon to 6pm, and in some places till 8 pm. Despite that, violent protests erupted in different cities of the country leaving 20 dead, over 200 injured in widespread looting and rioting.
Eidul Azha
Cellular services in Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta, Peshawar and other cities were suspended, particularly during Eid prayers. In places like Karachi, the duration of suspension was extended to “avert hide-snatching incidents and related clashes between political parties and religious groups.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2012.
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For vested interests blood of innocent Pakistanis is cheaper and less important than bragging rights. Mobile companies did not meet their legal obligations when they dished out unaccounted sims to people without record and by misusing the CNICs of other people. If proper inquires are held we may find many skeletons in the vaults of these companies.
Whining much?