YouTube has been banned in Pakistan since the trailer for the film ‘Innocence of Muslims’ was uploaded on the video-sharing site. PHOTO: FILE
A PHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth gave the orders while hearing an application filed by Mian Muhibullah Kakakhel. The petition requested YouTube be unblocked and asked the court to issue an order to this effect.
YouTube has been banned in Pakistan since the trailer for the film ‘Innocence of Muslims’ was uploaded on the video-sharing site, causing public outrage in September 2012. The petition contended since people also used the site for informative purposes, the PTA needed to remove unwanted material so services could be resumed.
Being a Muslim, it is intolerable if someone uploads blasphemous material to YouTube, observed the bench. It asked the PTA to remove the material if it had the required technology.
The bench also asked the petitioner to ascertain if the PTA had sufficient technology and expertise to filter offensive content and inform the court in the next hearing.
Meanwhile, the PHC recommended the Ministry of Religious Affairs closely monitor the performance of Hajj and Umrah tour operators before allocating the companies a quota of pilgrims. This was suggested during the hearing of two different petitions filed by Bannu Travels and Tours, and Malik Hajj and Umrah Services.
Officials from the ministry claimed they had been scrutinising all operators. After the Hajj scam surfaced in 2010, the pilgrim quota for three tour companies was reduced and a penalty of Rs8 million was imposed on over 20 companies, with some even being blacklisted.
According to the ministry officials, a chartered accountant has been hired to examine all tour operators in the country. Operators will be graded out of 100 and quotas will be allocated according to the marks obtained.
The scrutiny process includes experience and performance during Hajj and Umrah seasons, the tour operator’s financial health, and the provision of services to pilgrims. Pilgrims have been asked by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to file complaints if they find their operator is not up to the mark.
The officials maintained the ministry would not discriminate against any tour operator and that the scrutiny process would be completed with a week or ten days.
In addition, the PHC bench suggested the financial health and experience of the tour operators be tested. The ministry should take into account the extent to which operators facilitated pilgrims before allocating a quota, it observed.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (13)
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I have found another website identical to ishowtube but with an excellent service and great uptime... youtubetram.com
Well PTA is not serious about resolving YouTube's issue. The fact is they are not removing the blasphemous videos from their site, instead PTA have to put on a filter to make that content unavailable to Pakistani people. In which they haven't succeeded so far. Though I appreciate an effort from yet unknown group of developers that started http://www.ishowtube.com they claim that Anti-Islamic videos have been removed/filtered.
Though the site is still not a replacement for YouTube but it is a splendid effort by whoever and I will surely support them.
The contineous ban on youtube is not because of blasphemous movie,but it was a policy of government to censor it as it contain some facts showing the incompetency,corruption and black history of our governments. Youtube show the graph that where we are standing in the race of international communities. Youtube records the history and history of our politicians is very typical to see. Else PTA shows that it is the most incompetent institution of our country that doesnt know how to deal with google company. Shame
Can the court please ban corruption and nepotism? That's against Islam too.
Being a Muslim, it is intolerable if someone uploads blasphemous material to YouTube, observed the bench. . Query. I thought judges were suppose make judgement based on facts presented rather than use the bench to broadcast private opinions? Suspect that in most countries the judge would have to recuse himself.
one youtube video could derail the 1500 yr of history...then youtube is much more powerful than islam .. start praying youtube god
@ashar if you don't want to use it, that is your personal choice...but enforcing your ideology on others is wrong.
Youtube really is great and just like every search engine is not google, no other website can compare with youtube as well; The reason being the number of users worldwide using and sharing the content is the highest. You get to see many educational & informative videos including TV shows, tutorials, I even learned to sift dough (atta) for roti on youtube! In this day and age shying away from technology and information is equivalent of dying...so come out of dark ages and that mentality. PTA should be able to find ways to ban offensive material, just like they have banned porn sites.
Ban should continue, those who think it is source of information and learning can learn from other websites very easily, since the banning in not because contents in general but a particular matter that is very sensitive for Muslims therefore no need to lift the ban in Pakistan. We are very adaptable we can live without You tube. When people can live without electricity why cannot without You tube.
It should have been done a long time back, Many countries have blocked that content and are using Youtube, It is one of the best source of learning for many people to get knowledge and share their content so it's also disturbing the economy of the country
And the Pakistani YouTube folly continues!!! Anyone interested (but obviously not the court or the news media) can go to Wikipedia and search for YouTube, where one will discover that (wonder of wonders) there are more than 50 countries in the world that have set up localized YouTube hubs so that they can control (Censor?) what content is viewable in their respective countries! For example, countries with Muslim populations such as India, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Morocco, Yemen, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Turkey have all set up localized hubs!! One could beg the question as to when the PTA/government has/have EVER planned to set up a Pakistan localized hub to actually solve this issue! OR NOT!!!
Ideologies are always questioned/criticized. Muslims need to learn how to take criticism. No need for tantrums
PTA is like the communists...keeping information from their public. Afsos!