Denouncing a second raid at his home, former focal person to ex-prime minister Imran Khan, Dr Arslan Khalid on Wednesday night confirmed his arrival back home.

“I am safe and back at home. Thanks for the support by everyone,” he tweeted, adding that, “Some friends tweeted about a second raid which is not true.”

Earlier on April 10, the residence of Khalid by unidentified persons, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said on Sunday, hours after the party was ousted from power through a no-confidence motion against the prime minister.

The PTI took to their official Twitter handle to announce the “extremely disturbing news”, claiming that Khalid’s home was raided and that his family’s mobile phones were taken away.

It maintained that Khalid had “never abused anyone on social media and never attacked any institutions”.

The party urged the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to look into the matter. Several former federal ministers condemned the raid in their statements and tweets. Asad Umar said that “patriotic youth” like Khalid were an “asset” for the nation.

“Wow! Deep shadows cast over Arslan Khalid’s house as it got raided & his family’s phones taken away.

Not surprising bec “deep-seated” intolerance for criticism leads to irrational rage. But criticism on social media often spontaneous unlike coups! #WeStandWithDrArsalanKhalid,” tweeted former human rights minister Shireen Mazari.

Source: Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will Thursday (today) resume hearing in identical petitions filed against the implementation of “Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards), Rules 2020.”

A single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah will conduct hearing of the petitions wherein he had previously directed the amicus curiae to submit their briefs regarding the notified social media rules.

The bench had earlier appointed Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), Sadaf Baig, Nighat Dad and Fariha Aziz to assist the court in the matter.

Previously, Additional Attorney General Qasim Wudood apprised the court that a committee headed by Federal Minister Shireen Mazari held meetings with more than 30 stakeholders including Facebook, Google, Twitter and others in this regard.

Showing resentment over the closure of the short-video sharing app, TikTok, the IHC chief justice said that where it happens that authority makes policies on ethics?

PM Imran Khan leaves for four-day China visit today

He asked that why TikTok was banned and unblocked in the country.

He remarked that this is not a joke, they have to move forward by obeying the law of the land.

He remarked that you cannot fight with technology, the world has advanced in the field of technology.

Justice Minallah asked the AAG that is he aware of the difference between contempt of court and freedom of speech?

He added that the court has given its decision that criticizing a judge is not a contempt of court.

He further said that the contempt of court is only when there is an attempt to influence the delivery of justice.

The Additional Attorney General also provided the details of the consultation with stakeholders on social media roles.

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had formed an advisory committee comprising Dr Shirin Mazari, Maleeka Bukhari and others and this committee had held 19 meetings with 30 stakeholders and each party was heard in full length.

Source: The Nation

Supreme Court of Pakistan has taken notice on Wednesday of objectionable content on social media and YouTube and hinted at shutting down the video-sharing platform in the country. Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin and Justice Mushir Alam were on the bench hearing the case hinted about banning TouTube while hearing the case of a man, Shaukat Ali, involved in a sectarian crime.

During the hearing, Justice Qazi Amin stated, “We are not against freedom of expression and masses have right to discuss our performance and decisions as we take salaries from public money but the constitution also provides us right of personal life but users of social media and YouTube are targeting our families”, he said.

“We have no objection to freedom of expression, remarked Justice Amin. Our salaries are paid from the money of the people, they have the right to raise questions on our decisions and our performance, he said. But the Constitution also grants us the right to privacy”, Justice Amin also said.

Website: ONEINDIA

Misinformation and disinformation has become a growing menace, not just over social media but also at conventional media, leading to growing demands by media consumers and by some senior members of journalistic community for better code of conduct to improve the standard of news and views. Yet somehow the subject of regulation irks nearly all and sundry in Pakistan’s journalistic community. Do they really think that a competitive marketplace of ideas, opinions and information exists – one that exempts them from regulation?

Economists have written tomes on why and how unregulated market for goods don’t work; the market of ideas, opinions, and information is no different and requires regulation as well. To think that suppliers of good news and views will eventually crowd out those who supply bad news and views reflects a poor understanding of markets.

Regulation for marketplace of goods is easily understood. Regulation for marketplace of opinions and information, however, isn’t a part of popular imagination even though it is critical in a growing service sector economy. For instance, the Competition Commission of Pakistan sends companies an invoice for fines when they falsely advertise themselves as offering ‘best’ product or service.

Similarly, there are laws that keep sell side analysts/brokers from holding any material position in the stock they are pitching, nor shall they pitch stocks of companies they are advising or have any other material transactional relation with. In case they do, they ought to be transparent about it and give full disclosures of it. This is simply because transparency is an integral principle of a competitive free market.

Yet strangely we have media houses, newspaper columnists, anchors and professional opinion suppliers on electronic and print media, who hold close financial and non-financial ties with different political parties, power corridors, and interest groups without being transparent about it.

A competitive marketplace of ideas, opinions and information is instrumental for smooth functioning of democracy. Distortions in this market is far more dangerous than distortions in market of goods or even other facets of service economy.

If a broker pitches a stock despite having a conflict of interest, or if a sell side analyst intentionally creates mis- or disinformation for a stock, then the suffering will likely be limited to identifiable holders of that stock. But if people support wrong government policies or vote for wrong politician then the whole of the society suffers, where inter-generational consequences are quite likely.

Granted that there are genuine risks of media regulation being used to clamp freedom of expression, given Pakistan’s chequered political history. But 21st century offers several unique ways of governance mechanism and instruments that can be implemented to improve the standard of journalism in the country without a capture by the powers that be. Fear is not a justification for failure!

Economic literature is replete with examples that showcase how the idea of self-regulating markets has proven to be as unworthy as the idea that market players can self-regulate themselves, the latter being considered by several leading journalistic voices in Pakistan.

As the new generation gradually changes hands, it’s about time to address this existential wrong to achieve the positive spillovers of a vibrant market of ideas, opinions and information on various facets of economy as well as political and social development. Such an effort should not be construed as a one-time exercise of passion but a systematic effort towards institution building, because the alignment of private and social incentives in media is rather complicated affair and requires a long period of trial and error to arrive at a neat equilibrium.

Article by: B.R Research

Newspaper: Business Recorder

KARACHI: A delegation from Facebook held a virtual meeting with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to discuss the Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020, and to propose recommendations as part of an ongoing consultation process. In the meeting, Facebook representatives highlighted that the rules should: strive for greater transparency on content restricted in Pakistan; preserve citizens’ right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under Pakistan’s Constitution; incorporate due process requirements; and develop an independent oversight mechanism as required by PECA.

Newspaper: Business Recorder

Related link: The News

• We are fully cognizant of the critical role played by Technology Companies in promoting the digital economy and freedom of expression, says PTA.
• AIC in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Imran Khan warned that the government’s new rules to regulate social media activity will make it “extremely difficult” for digital companies to operate in Pakistan.

Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA), has invited the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), for the ongoing consultation process over Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, 2020.

In a letter, PTA Chairman Amir Azeem Bajwa said, “Government of Pakistan and Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) is a strong proponent of Digital Pakistan and freedom of expression over the Internet. We are fully cognizant of the critical role played by Technology Companies in promoting the digital economy and freedom of expression.

“I am sure you are aware that in order to assuage concerns expressed by AIC and other segments of society over the subject Rules, Prime Minister of Pakistan has directed to constitute a Consultation Committee to undertake open and broad-based consultation with all stakeholders. Accordingly, the implementation of the Rules has been suspended and consultation / review process initiated. In this context, on behalf of the Consultation Committee, I would like to formally invite AIC and its members for the consultation process,” the letter read.

The invitation comes weeks after the AIC in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Imran Khan warned that the government’s new rules to regulate social media activity will make it “extremely difficult” for digital companies to operate in Pakistan.

The AIC Managing Director Jeff Paine expressed concern that unless revoked, “these rules would severely cripple the growth of Pakistan’s digital economy”.

The AIC which is an industry association that promotes the understanding and resolution of internet policy issues in the Asia Pacific region comprises leading internet and technology companies, including Facebook, Twitter, Google, Amazon, Apple, and Yahoo (Oath).

The Consultation Committee meeting with AIC is expected to be held next week.

Business Recorder

ISLAMABAD: Rights act­ivists, lawyers, journalists, politicians representing different political parties at a conference held here on Wed­nesday expressed the res­olve to resist and challe­nge government move to res­trict social media freedom.

They demanded review of rules framed under the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016 and appro­ved a declaration stating that such “black laws will not only tarnish Pakistan’s image globally, but will also usurp the constitutional right of people of Pakistan guaranteed in Article 19 of the Constitution”.

Those who spoke at the conference included noted human rights activist I.A. Rehman, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, former senator Farhatullah Babar, veteran journalists Imtiaz Alam, Muhammad Ziaud­din, Hussain Naqi, Senator Pervez Rashid, Abid Saqi of Pakistan Bar Council, senior anchor person Hamid Mir, Haris Khalique of Human Rights Commission of Pakis­tan, Senator Jehanzeb Jama­l­dini, Senator Tahir Bizenjo, Sadaf Khan of Media Matters for Democracy and Chaudhry Shafiq of PCHR.

Dawn

Indian authorities on Wednesday lifted the ban on access to social media websites in occupied Kashmir.

People in the region will now be allowed unrestricted 2G internet access. In addition, internet services will also be available on landline connections. However, this permission will be granted after verification.

According to a notification, internet speed shall be restricted to 2G, post-paid SIM card holders shall continue to be provided access to the internet, these restrictions shall not be made available on pre-paid SIM cards unless verified, internet connectivity shall continue to be made available with Mac-binding.

The notification no longer includes wording about intelligence inputs indicating that social media and VPN [virtual private network] applications were being used to coordinate terror activities or upload provocative material.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the speed restrictions on mobile internet access would remain in place till mid-March.

According to the report, Riyaz Mir, managing director of CNS Infotec, a private internet provider in Srinagar, said he had restored access to social media and all other websites on his networks.

Meanwhile, AFP reported that within an hour of lifting the ban, social media sites like Twitter and Facebook were abuzz with users posting messages of relief.

“After 7 months, we are glad to connect with you online,” a women’s legal help group, Kashmir Women’s Collective, wrote on Twitter.

“Our work on ground never stopped. We faced multiple challenges but our drive our courage from women who even in these hard times reached out to us, sharing with us the warmth and strength.”

Pakistan Today

LAHORE: Six women ‘activists’ approached the Lahore High Court on Monday with a request to ‘regulate’ forthcoming Aurat March to ensure implementation of Citizen Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, 2020.

Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh is set to resume on Tuesday (today) hearing on main petition against the march moved by Advocate Azhar Siddique.

On last hearing, senior lawyer Hina Jillani had appeared before the court in defence of the participants in the march and questioned the maintainability of the petition. The police ordered to submit a report on security to be provided to the marchers and on law and order situation.

“If the previous Aurat March is taken into account, it can clearly be observed that the so-called march is nothing but an anti-state activity aimed at tarnishing dignity of women and tarnishing the image of Islam,” said the women in a civil miscellaneous application they filed through Advocate Siddique to become party in the pending main petition.

Expressing serious concerns over the Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology observed that if the social media companies were banned for not abiding the rules, it might result in international embarrassment, besides hampering digital media growth in the country. The committee met under the chairmanship of Ali Khan Jadoon here on Monday.

The committee was briefed by ministry officials regarding the Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020. However expressing dissatisfaction over the briefing the parliamentary panel sought briefing from the Law Division on these rules.

Secretary Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (IT&T) and chairman, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) briefed the committee on recently notified social media rules by the federal government regarding “The Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, 2020″ under sections of “The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organization) Act, 1996″ and “The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016″.

The committee observed that even the US senate could not ban social media companies and if Pakistan banned these companies, the country would have to face embarrassment at international level.

The committee members also observed that these rules may hamper digital growth, besides there is a perception of controlling freedom of expression. The ministry officials rejected the notion, while saying that these rules are made only to ensure prevention of online content related to terrorism, extremism, hate speech, defamation, fake news, incitement to violence, and national security.

The members of the committee were told that a national coordinator for over viewing social media activities would be appointed by the federal IT ministry.

“Under the rules, the social media companies are bound to remove illegal material from their sites within 24 hours of the complaint,” the briefing said, adding that they would be further directed to open their offices in Islamabad and establish their data bank within the country.

IT Ministry official said that the cabinet had already approved social media rules on January 28. Asked as to why a national coordinator could not be appointed, the secretary IT cited the delay due to the absence of the federal minister owing to his resignation from the post, which is yet to be approved by the prime minister.

The committee was not satisfied by the briefing of the secretary Ministry of IT&T and the chairman PTA. While briefing, several questions were raised by the committee members about the Citizens Protection Rules, 2020. The members were of the view that said rules should be discussed in the National Assembly and then same should be referred to the Standing Committee on IT&T for its further deliberations/clarification.

The above mentioned rules should also be referred to the House after recommendations of the committee. The committee deferred the agenda and directed the Ministry of IT&T, Ministry of Law and Justice, the PTA, the NACTA, the NTC and the FIA to further brief the committee in detail in its next meeting.

The committee also deferred the agenda items regarding “Complete details on all the vacant positions (post wise) in the Ministry of IT&T and its attached departments; promotion/seniority due of the incumbents training programmes for fresh graduates subordinate organizations” and “As per government policy on the NFTP, discussion on the inclusion of short subsidies online courses (e-skills) as a possible training option for freelance programs” till its next meeting.

The meeting was attended by Sahibzada Sibgatullah, Ali Arbab, Zain Hussain, Abdul Ghafar Wattoo, Javairia Zafar, Kanwal Shauzab, Nusrat Wahid, Muhammad Hashim, Malik Sohail, Ali Gohar, Romina Khursheed Alam, Maiza Hameed, Shamim Ara Panhwar, Mahesh Kumar Malani, Naz Baloch, Ayesha Rajab Ali and Syed Mehmood Shah, MNAs. The meeting was also attended by senior officers of the Ministry of IT&T, the PTA, the NACTA, the NTC, and the FIA.

Business Recorder