Censorship

Islamabad, January 06, 2013: Over a hundred days have passed since YouTube was hastily banned in Pakistan by the state authorities over a video allegedly insulting Islam. While the video remains, Youtube is now inaccessible for all the citizens including small and large businesses, civil society organizations, educational and research institutions.

Islamabad, September 18, 2012: Following the release of an anti-Islam movie “Innocence of Muslims” on YouTube, the Islamic world has been ablaze with protesters making a range of demands, from the prohibition of the movie and all websites hosting it, to the murder of all those associated with its production.

Islamabad, August 23, 2012: ARTICLE 19 and Bytes for All, Pakistan, condemn the authorities in Pakistan for the practice of implementing regional and city-wide bans on mobile phone networks – so-called ‘kill switch’ tactics - in Balochistan and other parts of the country.  The kill switch has been implemented at times of national celebration, most recently on Eid Day on 20 August 2012.

Islamabad, August 15, 2012: It is very unfortunate to note that the 66th Independence Day of Pakistan was not any different for citizens in Balochistan than the Pakistan Day on 23 March 2012. Their digital communication channels were blocked by the government and yet again in the name of “national security” and “upholding law and order”.

Islamabad – Saturday, March 17, 2012: Today, the democratic government of Pakistan is celebrating its achievements, when President of Pakistan made his fifth consecutive speech to the joint session of Parliament in the federal capital Islamabad. On this important day, it is extremely disappointing to note that despite severe criticism, Government is going ahead and continuing with its plans to filter the internet in Pakistan.

Islamabad, Friday, February 24, 2012: The Government of Pakistan has repeatedly exhibited the obsession to lock up the Pakistani cyberspace at every given chance. The reasons for doing so are myriad and diverse, but mostly, they revolve around the same unjustifiable excuses like upholding national security, war on terror and/or religious morality.