Pakistan to lead global campaign against blasphemous content

[Gabbar Singh]

Other than people's feelings who/what does blasphemous content on social media actually harm?

If I were to say something like Zeus is a fake god or Scientology is a load of nonsense why should any law stop me from saying so?

Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar on Thursday said Pakistan will represent the global Muslim community on the issue of blasphemous content posted on social media platforms and take the fight to any extent necessary to get its message across.

"Such content has been posted on social media websites for years. I am surprised that no other Muslim country raised the issue till now," Nisar said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

"We will take any steps necessary to make sure that our message against such content gets across to those websites as well as the rest of the world," Nisar said.

"We cannot put a handle on things until Facebook and these other websites help us, but when it comes to uploading done from within Pakistan, we have nearly pinpointed from where it is happening through the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other intelligence agencies."

"Since this has become an international issue, I have also asked the FIA to find good legal counsel on the matter. They have been instructed to find a lawyer that understands international law and can advise us on these matters," Nisar added.

"I have asked the Foreign Office to appoint a representative in the US to liaison with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and these social media websites on a daily basis," he said.

"Facebook and other service providers should share all information about the people behind this blasphemous content with us."

“We are working on both tracks to ensure that those who have committed these crimes do not get away scot-free while the innocent do not get sucked into the matter,” he added.

“I have already directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to send out notices and ask that this content is removed and that it does not reappear online again,” Nisar said.

"Apart from all these measures, I still warn that we will take the matter to whatever end is necessary if these platforms do not comply with our demands," Nisar said, in an apparent reference to repeated appeals to block social media in Pakistan.

Nisar seemed to echo Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who said on March 14 that blasphemy is an 'unpardonable offence' and directed state machinery to find those responsible for putting blasphemous content on social media and bring them to justice without delay.

“The blasphemous content on social media is a nefarious conspiracy to hurt the religious sentiments of the entire Muslim ummah,” Nawaz was quoted as saying in a statement released on Twitter by the PML-N's official account.

Earlier the same day, the National Assembly had passed a resolution condemning blasphemous content posted on social media and unanimously agreed to the formation of a committee of parliamentary leaders to monitor such content.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1320865/p...against-blasphemous-content-interior-minister

 

[Abdullah719]

"Social media is not more important than religion and faith" : Chaudhry Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday warned that whoever is spreading blasphemous content on social media, will be punished.

During the press conference in Islamabad, Chaudhary Nisar stated, “Social media is not more important than religion and faith,” adding that the issue of blasphemy is not limited to one country but rather one that affects the entire Muslim world.

He informed that Pakistan has been taking measure to deal with problems with the help of court orders; meanwhile, a joint agenda has been outlined by Muslim countries which will produce productive results.

http://dailytimes.com.pk/pakistan/2...s-against-blasphemous-content-on-social-media

One arrest made in social media blasphemy case, interior ministry tells IHC

As the hearing of a petition seeking removal of blasphemous content from social media resumed on Wednesday, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui was told that the interior ministry had made one arrest in the case, while the names of several have been put on the Exit Control List (ECL).

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) submitted its report on the matter and informed the court that they had registered a case two days ago after completing their inquiry.

The court expressed its disappointment at the speed at which the case was progressing and instructed the interior ministry to hand in a detailed report on the matter in the next hearing, which will be held on March 27.

The court reiterated that the country's premier spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, should assist the government in the case.

Justice Siddiqui said a decision on banning social media in Pakistan will be made only after the interior ministry submits its report.

The issue has kicked up a political storm on the national level.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on March 14 that blasphemy is an unpardonable offence and directed the state machinery to find those responsible for putting blasphemous content on social media and bring them to justice without delay.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has also said that Pakistan will represent the global Muslim community on the issue of blasphemous content posted on social media platforms and take the fight to any extent necessary to get its message across.

On March 16, the National Assembly passed a resolution condemning blasphemous content posted on social media and unanimously agreed to the formation of a committee of parliamentary leaders to monitor such content.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1322148/o...ia-blasphemy-case-interior-ministry-tells-ihc

 

[last_knight]

He is absolutely right wrt title. But it belies within religion to keep yourself acquainted with your surroundings and social media is an important contributer for this.

Social Media is a tool, Religion isn't. But sadly, in Pakistan, religion is a tool.

 

[PakLFC]

Insults against any religion or religious figures can never be freedom of expression. The intent is to emotionally charge the faithful to the degree that they commit violent acts. This blasphemy is carried out from other countries in particular across the border that must be nipped in the bud.

 

[Adil_94]

pretty pathetic attempts to curb freedom of speech and this isnt just aimed at gutter level insults you see by online trolls but anyone who has any educated arguments against the religion or criticism of its Prophet or anyone who suggests a unorthodox interpretation of Islam that the mullahs cant digest. When Pakistan suffers from so much religiously inspired extremism and terrorism you'd think the govt would know better. If your idea or ideology is so true and perfect then surely it should be open to criticism and debate but the thin skinned nature of these people is such that they arent willing to test that theory. Not unlike Communists and Fascists this act will remove any facade about how "peaceful" these pro-blasphemy people are.

Facebook shouldnt bow to these pseudo-theocrats its not illiteracy poverty overpopulation terrorism extremism that is the issue its people who hurt your feelings online. Good job Pakistan.

 

[Adil_94]

Also Pakistan forget about this global battle against blasphemy keep this rubbish inside your own borders.

 

[JaDed]

Remarkable how humans think they can protect the honour of God when actually they are getting fooled by their leaders.

 

[Zak_Fan]

A ban on social media will be quite extreme.

 

[Yossarian]

Absolutely stupid idea. Far too much influence and power wielded by maulvis, sheikhs and imaams - which eventually leads tp the creation of the likes of Isis, Taliban, Al Qaeda and all the other nut cases.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

He is absolutely right wrt title. But it belies within religion to keep yourself acquainted with your surroundings and social media is an important contributer for this.

Social Media is a tool, Religion isn't. But sadly, in Pakistan, religion is a tool.

I agree with you 100 %.

 

[dhump]

or this could be the solution.

 

[Third_Umpire]

Wow, what a great way to invest time/money/resources! Because we don't have any real problems to worry about, such as poverty, education, healthcare.

Idiots.

 

[troodon]

You can never stop a person from desecrating holy scriptures in the privacy of their home.

Is this law supposed to protect God or protect feelings of that God's followers?

 

[Markhor]

Hardly the most pressing matter. Pak Govt should focus its efforts on providing affordable healthcare, improving sanitation, increasing access to education and initiatives that actually improves lives instead of this nonsense.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Hardly the most pressing matter. Pak Govt should focus its efforts on providing affordable healthcare, improving sanitation, increasing access to education and initiatives that actually improves lives instead of this nonsense.

Well said. Gov has to go with views of majority Pakistani's on this sensitive religious matter eventhough it won't have any impact whatsoever in the age of technology.

 

[DW44]

Hardly the most pressing matter. Pak Govt should focus its efforts on providing affordable healthcare, improving sanitation, increasing access to education and initiatives that actually improves lives instead of this nonsense.

Do you think Nawaz Sharif or Chaudhary Nisar personally care about blasphemy, or prosecuting blasphemers, especially when you consider that the former has been accused of blasphemy at least twice in the last two weeks by high profile public figures including a religious scholar? The government is focusing it's efforts here because it wins a lot of brownie points with the public at large without actually having to do too much. As flawed as Pakistan's democracy is, public opinion is still extremely important and the politicians know it which is why they focus so much attention and efforts on addressing non issues such as this one.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Hardly the most pressing matter. Pak Govt should focus its efforts on providing affordable healthcare, improving sanitation, increasing access to education and initiatives that actually improves lives instead of this nonsense.

It's a fairly standard practice in politics. Avoid talking about the real issues when you can divert the average Joe's attention to trivial nonsense like this.