Find me on facebook www.facebook.com/shamshad.haider https://www.youtube.com/shamshad14
Saturday, June 7, 2014
PTA denies blocking rock band Laal's Facebook page
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) on Friday denied that it had blocked the popular Facebook page for a liberal Pakistani rock band ‘Laal’, days after the page became inaccessible for users from within the country.
“We have not closed the page of Laal, Facebook has its own terms of reference and it closes pages that seem indecent to them,” Khurram Ali Mehran, a spokesman for the regulatory body, told AFP.
The denial comes as Facebook claimed the page had been blocked inside Pakistan at Islamabad’s request, under an agreement to limit access to material that violates local laws.
Mehran, the PTA spokesman, denied the existence of such an agreement, saying Facebook had acted alone.
“We have no agreement with Facebook whatsoever, it's a pack of lies,” he said.
The page has been inaccessible to users inside Pakistan since Wednesday, angering activists campaigning against censorship in the country.
“Pakistan's agreement with Facebook came to light last year when a senior official from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, an Internet regulatory body, was summoned by the Lahore High Court in a case concerning the YouTube ban, but its terms have not been made public.
Rock band “Laal” (Red) formed in 2007 and are known for their progressive politics. Their Facebook page has more than 400,000 likes, with users frequently joining debates on issues ranging from feminism to the role of the country's army in politics.
Other pages like “Taalibansarezalimans” (The Taliban are oppressors) and “Pakistani.meem” which describes itself as pro-democracy and secularism, have similarly been blocked in recent days.
“Facebook didn't even inform us, I realised when I noticed no activity on our page,” Taimur Rahman, Laal's lead guitarist, told AFP.
A Facebook spokeswoman told the news agency: “While we never remove this type of content from the site entirely, like most Internet services, we may restrict people from accessing it in the countries where it is determined to be illegal.
“Before we restrict the content, we take significant steps to investigate each unique claim, consult with local counsel and other experts in the country, and will only remove content in the most limited way possible,” she added.
According to a page on Facebook that deals with government requests, 162 pieces of content were restricted for viewership inside Pakistan between July to December 2013.
“We restricted access in Pakistan to a number of pieces of content primarily reported by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the Ministry of Information Technology under local laws prohibiting blasphemy and criticism of the state,” the page says.
Pakistan practises extensive Internet censorship, blocking YouTube in 2012 following the release of a low-budget film disrespectful of Islam. Websites for Baloch separatist movements in the country's southwest are also banned.
While attempts to access those sites result in a government message informing the user that the content has been blocked for viewership within Pakistan, clicking Laal's page (www.facebook.com/laalpak) or the other liberal pages instead re-directs a user towards their own home feed.
Shahzad Ahmad, director of the Bytes For All organisation that campaigns for free speech said: “The is a mass murder of free speech in Pakistan.
“Yasser Latif Hamdani, a lawyer, added: “This is a grave mistake by Facebook. Also for the Pakistani government to make such requests is illegal and unconstitutional.
Rahman, the musician, said the blocking of his band’s page was indicative of diminishing space for liberals in the country.
“If you have progressive or liberal views you will be gunned down or silenced but if you have extremist views and take up arms Pakistan will give you the status of a stakeholder in power and negotiate with you,” he said.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
- Jun 21 - Jun 28 (1)
- Jun 14 - Jun 21 (3)
- Jun 7 - Jun 14 (3)
- Mar 15 - Mar 22 (8)
- Mar 8 - Mar 15 (53)
- Mar 1 - Mar 8 (20)
- Feb 23 - Mar 1 (10)
- Feb 16 - Feb 23 (19)
- Feb 9 - Feb 16 (17)
- Feb 2 - Feb 9 (38)
- Jan 26 - Feb 2 (9)
- Jan 19 - Jan 26 (9)
- Jan 12 - Jan 19 (23)
- Jan 5 - Jan 12 (14)
- Dec 29 - Jan 5 (10)
- Dec 22 - Dec 29 (14)
- Dec 15 - Dec 22 (9)
- Dec 8 - Dec 15 (6)
- Dec 1 - Dec 8 (14)
- Nov 24 - Dec 1 (30)
- Nov 17 - Nov 24 (36)
- Nov 10 - Nov 17 (6)
- Nov 3 - Nov 10 (16)
- Oct 27 - Nov 3 (36)
- Oct 20 - Oct 27 (21)
- Oct 13 - Oct 20 (44)
- Oct 6 - Oct 13 (17)
- Sep 29 - Oct 6 (14)
- Sep 22 - Sep 29 (30)
- Sep 15 - Sep 22 (17)
- Sep 8 - Sep 15 (24)
- Sep 1 - Sep 8 (41)
- Aug 25 - Sep 1 (24)
- Aug 18 - Aug 25 (28)
- Aug 11 - Aug 18 (15)
- Aug 4 - Aug 11 (13)
- Jul 28 - Aug 4 (8)
- Jul 21 - Jul 28 (2)
- Jul 14 - Jul 21 (7)
- Jul 7 - Jul 14 (3)
- Jun 30 - Jul 7 (8)
- Jun 2 - Jun 9 (7)
- May 26 - Jun 2 (1)
- May 19 - May 26 (14)
- May 12 - May 19 (12)
- May 5 - May 12 (21)
- Apr 28 - May 5 (41)
- Apr 21 - Apr 28 (25)
- Apr 14 - Apr 21 (38)
- Apr 7 - Apr 14 (38)
- Mar 31 - Apr 7 (17)
- Mar 24 - Mar 31 (26)
- Mar 17 - Mar 24 (12)
- Mar 10 - Mar 17 (26)
- Mar 3 - Mar 10 (10)
- Feb 24 - Mar 3 (39)
- Feb 17 - Feb 24 (19)
- Feb 10 - Feb 17 (23)
- Feb 3 - Feb 10 (44)
- Jan 27 - Feb 3 (15)
- Jan 20 - Jan 27 (25)
- Jan 13 - Jan 20 (26)
- Jan 6 - Jan 13 (4)
- Dec 30 - Jan 6 (12)
- Dec 23 - Dec 30 (22)
- Dec 16 - Dec 23 (1)
- Dec 9 - Dec 16 (12)
- Dec 2 - Dec 9 (32)
- Nov 25 - Dec 2 (40)
- Nov 18 - Nov 25 (24)
- Nov 11 - Nov 18 (48)
- Nov 4 - Nov 11 (20)
- Oct 28 - Nov 4 (29)
- Oct 21 - Oct 28 (39)
- Oct 14 - Oct 21 (32)
- Oct 7 - Oct 14 (41)
- Sep 30 - Oct 7 (25)
- Sep 23 - Sep 30 (26)
- Sep 16 - Sep 23 (34)
- Sep 9 - Sep 16 (29)
- Sep 2 - Sep 9 (40)
- Aug 26 - Sep 2 (20)
- Aug 19 - Aug 26 (10)
- Aug 12 - Aug 19 (21)
- Aug 5 - Aug 12 (46)
- Jul 29 - Aug 5 (10)
- Jul 22 - Jul 29 (2)
- Jul 15 - Jul 22 (8)
- Jul 8 - Jul 15 (13)
- Jul 1 - Jul 8 (16)
- Jun 24 - Jul 1 (24)
- Jun 17 - Jun 24 (6)
- Jun 10 - Jun 17 (38)
- Jun 3 - Jun 10 (46)
- May 27 - Jun 3 (30)
- May 20 - May 27 (17)
- May 13 - May 20 (29)
- May 6 - May 13 (10)
- Apr 29 - May 6 (31)
- Apr 22 - Apr 29 (50)
- Apr 15 - Apr 22 (16)
- Apr 8 - Apr 15 (37)
- Apr 1 - Apr 8 (48)
- Mar 25 - Apr 1 (36)
- Mar 18 - Mar 25 (40)
- Mar 11 - Mar 18 (38)
- Mar 4 - Mar 11 (14)
- Feb 25 - Mar 4 (34)
- Feb 18 - Feb 25 (34)
- Feb 11 - Feb 18 (15)
- Feb 4 - Feb 11 (46)
- Jan 28 - Feb 4 (16)
- Jan 21 - Jan 28 (10)
- Jan 14 - Jan 21 (11)
- Jan 7 - Jan 14 (24)
- Dec 31 - Jan 7 (10)
- Dec 24 - Dec 31 (11)
- Dec 17 - Dec 24 (21)
- Dec 10 - Dec 17 (27)
- Dec 3 - Dec 10 (19)
- Nov 26 - Dec 3 (22)
- Nov 19 - Nov 26 (18)
- Nov 12 - Nov 19 (30)
- Nov 5 - Nov 12 (54)
- Oct 29 - Nov 5 (47)
- Oct 22 - Oct 29 (28)
- Oct 15 - Oct 22 (45)
- Oct 8 - Oct 15 (41)
- Oct 1 - Oct 8 (38)
- Sep 24 - Oct 1 (40)
- Sep 17 - Sep 24 (99)
- Sep 10 - Sep 17 (18)
- Sep 3 - Sep 10 (9)
- Aug 27 - Sep 3 (26)
- Aug 20 - Aug 27 (28)
- Aug 13 - Aug 20 (19)
- Aug 6 - Aug 13 (41)
- Jul 30 - Aug 6 (4)
- Jul 16 - Jul 23 (22)
- Jul 9 - Jul 16 (23)
- Jul 2 - Jul 9 (9)
- Jun 25 - Jul 2 (4)
- Jun 18 - Jun 25 (10)
- Jun 11 - Jun 18 (13)
- Jun 4 - Jun 11 (40)
- May 21 - May 28 (31)
- May 14 - May 21 (41)
- May 7 - May 14 (34)
- Apr 30 - May 7 (33)
- Apr 23 - Apr 30 (32)
- Apr 16 - Apr 23 (38)
- Apr 9 - Apr 16 (47)
- Apr 2 - Apr 9 (19)
- Mar 26 - Apr 2 (37)
- Mar 19 - Mar 26 (20)
- Mar 12 - Mar 19 (32)
- Mar 5 - Mar 12 (32)
- Feb 26 - Mar 5 (26)
- Feb 19 - Feb 26 (63)
- Feb 12 - Feb 19 (20)
- Feb 5 - Feb 12 (2)
- Jan 29 - Feb 5 (16)
- Jan 22 - Jan 29 (24)
- Jan 15 - Jan 22 (31)
- Jan 8 - Jan 15 (20)
- Jan 1 - Jan 8 (11)
- Dec 25 - Jan 1 (30)
- Dec 18 - Dec 25 (48)
- Dec 11 - Dec 18 (44)
- Dec 4 - Dec 11 (74)
- Nov 27 - Dec 4 (50)
- Nov 20 - Nov 27 (39)
- Nov 13 - Nov 20 (73)
- Nov 6 - Nov 13 (51)
- Oct 30 - Nov 6 (56)
- Oct 23 - Oct 30 (33)
- Oct 16 - Oct 23 (52)
- Oct 9 - Oct 16 (70)
- Oct 2 - Oct 9 (56)
- Sep 25 - Oct 2 (66)
- Sep 18 - Sep 25 (52)
- Sep 11 - Sep 18 (21)
- Sep 4 - Sep 11 (44)
- Aug 28 - Sep 4 (25)
- Aug 21 - Aug 28 (27)
- Aug 14 - Aug 21 (27)
- Aug 7 - Aug 14 (43)
- Jul 31 - Aug 7 (24)
- Jul 24 - Jul 31 (24)
- Jul 17 - Jul 24 (2)
- Jul 10 - Jul 17 (6)
- Jul 3 - Jul 10 (23)
- Jun 26 - Jul 3 (38)
- Jun 19 - Jun 26 (14)
- Jun 12 - Jun 19 (14)
- Jun 5 - Jun 12 (24)
- May 29 - Jun 5 (29)
- May 22 - May 29 (69)
- May 15 - May 22 (81)
- May 8 - May 15 (35)
- May 1 - May 8 (21)
- Apr 24 - May 1 (31)
- Apr 17 - Apr 24 (25)
- Apr 10 - Apr 17 (23)
- Apr 3 - Apr 10 (38)
- Mar 27 - Apr 3 (50)
- Mar 20 - Mar 27 (7)
- Mar 13 - Mar 20 (41)
- Mar 6 - Mar 13 (24)
- Feb 28 - Mar 6 (18)
- Feb 21 - Feb 28 (20)
- Feb 14 - Feb 21 (1)
- Feb 7 - Feb 14 (51)
- Jan 31 - Feb 7 (30)
- Jan 24 - Jan 31 (24)
- Jan 17 - Jan 24 (5)
- Jan 10 - Jan 17 (17)
- Jan 3 - Jan 10 (36)
- Dec 27 - Jan 3 (23)
- Dec 20 - Dec 27 (16)
- Dec 13 - Dec 20 (39)
- Dec 6 - Dec 13 (37)
- Nov 29 - Dec 6 (48)
- Nov 22 - Nov 29 (42)
- Nov 15 - Nov 22 (29)
- Nov 8 - Nov 15 (17)
- Nov 1 - Nov 8 (11)
- Oct 25 - Nov 1 (27)
- Oct 18 - Oct 25 (7)
- Oct 11 - Oct 18 (26)
- Oct 4 - Oct 11 (54)
- Sep 27 - Oct 4 (21)
- Sep 20 - Sep 27 (63)
- Sep 13 - Sep 20 (25)
- Sep 6 - Sep 13 (16)
- Aug 30 - Sep 6 (11)
- Aug 23 - Aug 30 (12)
- Aug 16 - Aug 23 (11)
- Aug 9 - Aug 16 (17)
- Aug 2 - Aug 9 (37)
- Jul 26 - Aug 2 (16)
- Jul 19 - Jul 26 (10)
- Jul 5 - Jul 12 (38)
- Jun 28 - Jul 5 (20)
- Jun 21 - Jun 28 (9)
- Jun 14 - Jun 21 (24)
- Jun 7 - Jun 14 (60)
- May 31 - Jun 7 (69)
- May 24 - May 31 (97)
- May 17 - May 24 (35)
- May 10 - May 17 (28)
- May 3 - May 10 (42)
- Apr 26 - May 3 (24)
- Apr 19 - Apr 26 (2)
- Apr 12 - Apr 19 (16)
- Apr 5 - Apr 12 (31)
- Mar 29 - Apr 5 (1)
- Sep 21 - Sep 28 (1)
- Aug 17 - Aug 24 (2)
- Aug 10 - Aug 17 (130)
- Aug 3 - Aug 10 (220)
- Jul 27 - Aug 3 (170)
- Jul 13 - Jul 20 (5)
- Jul 6 - Jul 13 (149)
- Jun 29 - Jul 6 (171)
- Jun 22 - Jun 29 (231)
- Jun 15 - Jun 22 (153)
- Jun 8 - Jun 15 (133)
- Jun 1 - Jun 8 (102)
- May 25 - Jun 1 (140)
- May 18 - May 25 (171)
- May 11 - May 18 (155)
- May 4 - May 11 (205)
- Apr 27 - May 4 (220)
- Apr 20 - Apr 27 (155)
- Apr 13 - Apr 20 (201)
- Apr 6 - Apr 13 (218)
- Mar 30 - Apr 6 (209)
- Mar 23 - Mar 30 (248)
- Mar 16 - Mar 23 (255)
- Mar 9 - Mar 16 (272)
- Mar 2 - Mar 9 (340)
- Feb 23 - Mar 2 (311)
- Feb 16 - Feb 23 (237)
- Feb 9 - Feb 16 (229)
- Feb 2 - Feb 9 (98)
- Jan 26 - Feb 2 (91)
- Jan 19 - Jan 26 (14)
- Jan 12 - Jan 19 (82)
- Jan 5 - Jan 12 (46)
- Dec 22 - Dec 29 (95)
- Dec 15 - Dec 22 (7)
- Dec 8 - Dec 15 (78)
- Dec 1 - Dec 8 (33)
- Nov 24 - Dec 1 (40)
- Nov 17 - Nov 24 (61)
- Nov 10 - Nov 17 (14)
- Oct 27 - Nov 3 (42)
- Oct 20 - Oct 27 (238)
- Oct 13 - Oct 20 (269)
- Oct 6 - Oct 13 (284)
- Sep 29 - Oct 6 (204)
- Sep 22 - Sep 29 (220)
- Sep 15 - Sep 22 (257)
- Sep 8 - Sep 15 (164)
No comments:
Post a Comment