Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry orders blocking of anti-Islam videos

Directing Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block links to all blasphemous videos including a recently uploaded anti-Islam movie on YouTube, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry asked it to take down all the relevant material.

Moreover, the chief justice directed the authority to take down all profane material that disrespects Islam or Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in any way.

An anti-Islam movie produced in the United States sparked fury across the Muslim World for mocking the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and for portraying Muslims as immoral and gratuitously violent.

Chief Justice Chaudhry also issued directives to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) to set up standards of modesty and submit a reply in this regard within two weeks.

Earlier, the government had claimed that the PTA and IT ministry had blocked 122 anti-Islamic websites during the past few days.

It had also been reported that any blasphemous material that comes to their attention must be reported immediately to the PTA on 080055055 or emailed to complaint@pta.gov.pk.

Clarifying its position, the government said that it was blocking only anti-Islam content but not popular websites YouTube and Facebook. The obscene material shall be blocked on case to case basis, it added.

It is vital to mention here that thousands of people took on the roads across the country to denounce an anti-Islam movie with protestors burning US flags and effigies of President Barack Obama, and calling to sever ties with America.

Apart from Pakistan, protesters across the Muslim world have vented their fury at the amateur film by targeting symbols of US influence ranging from embassies and schools to fast food chains.

Washington ordered all non-essential staff to leave Tunisia and Sudan after its embassies were stormed as al Qaeda called for more attacks on US targets.

Earlier, the US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three other US officials were killed last week in an attack by suspected Islamic militants on the US consulate in Benghazi in protest against the film. A total of 17 people have died in violence so far.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=32739

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Sep 17 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.