A latter drafted by the ministry’s regional sectary, read, “…use of these services is playing havoc with the peace of the region.”
To stem the flow of controversial content in Gilgit-Baltistan, the government has requested Ministry of Interior to ban the Short Messaging Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service in the region.
A letter drafted by the ministry’s regional secretary, read, “…use of these services is playing havoc with the peace of the region.” The move came days after youth of two different sects embroiled over an exchange of blasphemous text messages which desecrated revered personalities through Twitter accounts linked to the SMS facility.
Written by the regional government, the letter referred to the attacks on public buses at Lalusar, Kohistan and the subsequent violence, stating that the incidents served as a catalyst in inciting sectarian sentiments among the local population.
The rise in the spread of “blasphemous messages” through these services has dealt a death blow to the efforts of sectarian harmony, it added, urging authorities in Islamabad to direct all mobile service providers to withdraw the facility.
Sectarian violence has become rampant in the region, claiming nearly 80 lives during the last year alone.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (14)
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Very rite this community of Pakistan and particularly GB deserves it. On Tue other hand if mobiles are being used by the terrorist in different activities like bomb boasts it should also be banded in Pakistan.
Lets ban going out as well. If we cant go out we cant fight after all. Everyone is going to stay home from now on cause when you go out you kill people. Oh ban newspapers and tv as well. Afterall why did i as being a pakistani even know the meaning of the word blasphemy! Thats blasphemous in itself!! Lets just play it safe and ban people from living in pakistan. If no people in country no risk of blashemy and sectarian violence. Problem solved.
Banning the SMS is not a solution there are several other means by which such people can spread hatred the solution is to educate masses to respect all religions all faiths all casts only then the problems will not arise and there will be no need to ban anything.
While we're at it, let's ban pen and paper as well since they can also be used to write and communicate "offensive" content!
This is what you get in a society with a combination of a lack of civil values, and a dictatorial government. You reap what you sow......
Banning SMS, suspending cellular services on 'special occasions' are just the right approaches instead of educating people and taking appropriate security measures. These idiots would never cease to surprise us.
Banning everything doesn't make sense. If people hate each other so much they will find another way to hurt each other. It's stupid to ban the SMS services, rather than making short cuts and taking the easy way out, the government should solve the problem by educating people and going to the root of the problem!
All i can understand is, "The regional Govt. has requested the Ministry of Interior"...
Now look at the title,," In G-B, SMS banned after propagation of ‘blasphemous content’ ",,,
and also the comments coming from the people are amazing... Ahhh!! journalism & our wise people....
This is insanity at it's peak. The government is desperately trying to save it's reputation by these foolish acts. Well guess what, you have failed your people and this country and you need to go. Not tomorrow, but today!
@Gilgit: don't you think that people also have some responsibilities, not only electing them through polls but also by learning coexistence and how to live peacefully?
A shame act by the Government of GB, they could not provide safety to the local people and now they want to impose restriction on freedom of local people. In a statement the Chief Minister told that if you people has to see development go to Gilgit - Baltistan, and now he want to impose ban of SMS services.