YouTube has been banned in Pakistan since the trailer for the film ‘Innocence of Muslims’ was uploaded on the video-sharing site. PHOTO: FILE
Appearing before the court on Thursday, officials from the ministry and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) claimed that they could not impose a complete ban on blasphemous material on the internet.
The court has directed officials of the ministry to devise a comprehensive complaint strategy to block access to objectionable sites over the internet.
Advocate Yasir Hamdani, counsel for petitioner Bytes for All said that the counsel for the petitioner had claimed that several technologies were available that could help block controversial content and websites on YouTube.
The petitioner had sought directions from the Ministry of IT and PTA to reopen YouTube and only block controversial content available on the website.
YouTube had been blocked across Pakistan on September 17, 2012 following orders by then Prime Minister (PM) Raja Pervez Ashraf.
The PM had imposed a ban after YouTube refused to heed to the advice of the government to remove what it felt was a blasphemous film titled The Innocence of the Muslims.
The petition was filed by an NGO ‘Bytes for All’ that has challenged the ban.
In the petition on behalf of the NGO, Hamdani stated that all internet curbs were counterproductive and deprived Pakistanis their right to access information as well as the right to counter any propaganda against the country.
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It is good to be remain ban cause 60% Pakistan use only bad kinds of sites
@expaki: Well said
im proud i can say im pakistani and im muslim and i prove it via youtube ban and we are the muslim heros and this ban is batter then fire the mesils or rockets i love PTA for this ban
The government should... No, the courts should...
The definition of adult is that I get to make my own choice. This is something that our entire culture has forgotten.
As far as such material "corrupting" our youth is concerned, I monitor my own children and teach them right from wrong. It is my responsibility. I do not want anyone else wresting that from me.
Ban this, ban that. What next? Ban websites related to Christianity, Buddhism, Shias, Sunnis, cooking using high salt content, tying shoes with your left hand? Once you start, where does it end? Who decides where to draw the line?
A little bit of censorship is like being a little bit pregnant.
PML N & PPP Incompetent Governments and poor Administration unable to Tackle tiny issues Like Youtube and Filter System. :( :( :(
It does not matter weather ban remains or not those who want to access can get what ever they want and govt cannot do a thing the ban is for the parents I guess
I request from LHC to please think about this serious point ....... Provide youtube filter system before going to open this official site .thank
Whts sad is that some people are still in favour of the ban!
@Reality: You need to be sensible,just think blasphemous content is everywhere on Internet but you can't block whole internet then why only youtube.
Soon Youtube/ Google will be in heavy loss if they continue to loose traffic/ revenue from Pakistan because of this ban.
We elected our representatives to take such decisions keeping in view the wishes of the people. The elected members of the parliament should decide to ban or not to ban the YouTube. The court should ask the petitioners to approach the government instead of wating everyone's time.
What has the ban achieved? If I want to access that type of content I can do so on any other site. Do we think we are causing a HUGE loss of any sort to youtube? No. They dont even care. We are only losing out on important information ourselves.
Welcome Back Stone age.............Pakistan has made Islam proud
Why is it not banned in any other Muslim nation why al the time Pakistan has to be the champion for Islam.........If some wants to download that film they can easily do it from internet no need for you tube............Please for Pakistan and Islam and for your family take religion and matters of state separately and don't suppress people of their due rights ......................
Why doesn't the court demand they build a missile defense system, rocket to mars, and deliver a cure for cancer? Sometimes I wonder whether Pakistan courts know that they are suppose to determine whether somethings legal - not run the govt.
The ban should be not anymore, government should have make rules For cyber law for any violations.
Regards.
Youtube should remain banned until the removal of blasphemous contents.
To prevent all kind of DANGERS to OUR IMAAN, Please ban for good all these "SATANIC THINGS" things. In order to get JANAAT, We should follow the TRUE Islam. True followers of UMMA do not need these modern Satanic conspiracy against Pakistan.
You can't stop bad But you can teach people how to deal with it!