ISLAMABAD: Mobile internet and major social media platforms were shut down on Tuesday after videos began to emerge of arson and violence during protests against the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

All four cellular mobile companies — Jazz, Zong4G, Telenor and Ufone — were directed by the telecom regulator, Pakistan Telecommuni­cation Authority (PTA), to suspend data service.

A PTA spokesperson confirmed that the directive has been issued to the cellular mobile companies after a written request from the Ministry of Interior.

The data service has been stopped as it was helping spread violence across the country, the spokesperson said.

The decision was taken after social media was flooded with footage of a mob clashing with police in Karachi, attacking and entering the army’s head office GHQ in Rawalpindi and vandalising the official residence of a high-ranking military officer in Lahore.

Panic gripped several parts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi in the evening as data services were suspended and many areas witnessed power shutdown too at the same time.

While fixed-line broadband was functioning and no directives were issued by the regulator in this regard, the authorities had slowed Twitter and YouTube platforms to considerable levels.

An internet service provider said that service disruption was not only witnessed in major cities but also in smaller cities like D.I. Khan and Mardan.

The international monitor NetBlocks, which tracks internet disruptions, confirmed that the services of Twitter, Facebook and YouTube were affected on multiple ISPs in Pakistan on Tuesday.

“Additionally, total internet shutdowns have been observed in some regions,” NetBlocks anno­u­nced on its Twitter account.

It added that in addition to social media restrictions, real-time network data show total internet shutdowns in some regions accross the country.

However, other websites, including those of news media, could be acce­ssed on fixed line internet networks, it added.

Source: Dawn

The post Govt blocks internet to ‘stop violence’ first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) blocked Wikipedia services in Pakistan on Friday after their refusal to withdraw blasphemous content.

Earlier, the Authority had degraded its services in the country.

When this reporter contacted PTA spokesperson late on Friday night and inquired about blocking of Wikipedia, she confirmed that “yes” it had been blocked.

On the instruction of the high court, the PTA degraded — disrupting and slowing access to the encyclopedia — website for 48 hours because there was blasphemous content on it.

The PTA spokesperson stated that Wikipedia was approached for blocking/removal of the said content by issuing a notice under applicable law and court order(s).

An opportunity of hearing was also provided; however, the platform neither complied by removing the blasphemous content nor appeared before the Authority.

Given the intentional failure on part of the platform to comply with the directions of PTA, the services of Wikipedia were degraded for 48 hours with the direction to block/remove the reported contents.

In case of non-compliance by Wikipedia, the platform has been blocked within Pakistan.

The restoration of the services of Wikipedia will be reconsidered subject to blocking/removal of the reported unlawful contents.

PTA is committed to ensuring a safe online experience for all Pakistani citizens according to local laws.

Source: The News

The post PTA blocks Wikipedia over blasphemous content first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Wednesday “degraded” the services of the expansive online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, in the country claiming that the censorship was on “account of not blocking/removing sacrilegious contents”, and warned of blocking the site if it fails to comply with the directions.

In a statement, the telecommunication authority said that it had approached and urged Wikipedia to block or remove “sacrilegious” contents by issuing a notice under applicable law and court order(s).

“An opportunity of hearing was also provided,” the statement added, “however, the platform neither complied by removing the blasphemous content nor appeared before the Authority.”

As a result of the “intentional failure” on part of the platform to comply with PTA directions or to appear before it, its services were “degraded” throughout the country for 48 hours.

Moreover, directions to block/remove the reported contents had also been given.

The statement further stated that in the case of non-compliance by Wikipedia to remove the objectionable content, the platform will be blocked within Pakistan for a longer time.

“Restoration of the services of Wikipedia will be reconsidered subject to blocking/removal of the reported unlawful contents. PTA is committed to ensuring a safe online experience for all Pakistani citizens according to local laws,” the statement asserted.

Taking to Twitter, the PTA wrote: “Press Release: PTA has degraded Wikipedia services in the country on account of not blocking/removing sacrilegious contents.”

It must be noted that this is not the first time that the encyclopedia has been blocked in the country or in other countries.

The PTA had earlier issued notices to tech giant Google and the online encyclopedia Wikipedia for disseminating “sacrilegious content” through the platforms in 2020.

Speaking on the matter, digital rights experts explained that by “degrading” the platform, the PTA meant to curtail people’s access to it.

“We’ve run some tests,” said digital rights expert Usama Khilji, “and Wikipedia is active on some networks while not on others.”

Terming the move “a joke”, Khilji quoted former senator Aitzaz Ahsan, who in 2012 had, said that banning the entire platform [YouTube] because of objections against some videos was akin to burning the whole library because you don’t like some books.

While talking to Geo.tv, another digital rights activist Asad Baig raised questions and said: “The issue of transparency and magnitude of the move deserves scrutiny.”

“It must be noted that were it the case of spreading hate or inciting violence, a ban would make sense, but since this is not the case and it’s just a few articles the move is excessively counter-productive. You can ban information, but the move ended up proving bad for the country’s image,” Baig, the founder of Media Matters for Democracy, said.

He also added that the move had been made arbitrarily without any oversight from the parliament, civil society, or any regulatory body.

“Even if you do want to make such a move, there needs to be a proper mechanism in place, which should be transparent. It did not seem that such a mechanism exists, which makes the move suspect and open to criticism.”

Nighat Dad, a lawyer and digital rights activist, seconded this need for transparency and said: “The PTA has not cited or referenced any law or rule in its statement. However, when you read the document, you can tell it’s seemingly working under the framework of the social media rules of 2021, but they have been challenged in the court and their status is unclear.”

Dad, the founder of Digital Rights Foundation, further added: “It has been the attitude of the regulator to ask global platforms to take down content that they find ‘hurtful’ to the sentiments of Pakistanis. However, they are making this decision on behalf of people without actually taking their opinion into account. Wikipedia is a platform for education more than anything.”

“It seems that there is no agency for users of Pakistan. The response is disproportionate.”

Baig further added: “It must be noted that taking down hate speech and ‘sacrilegious’ content could be tackled by blocking individual pages on Wikipedia.”

“Generally, the suspension of platforms is counter-productive and weakens our position There is also an issue of oversight on the regulator. Content decisions should be made with a certain amount of parliamentary or civil society oversight which doesn’t exist.”

Source: Geo News

The post Pakistan warns of blocking Wikipedia over non-removal of ‘sacrilegious content’ first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah has expressed pleasure over FM Radio Channel 96.6, incepted by the Sindh Madrasatul Islam University (SMIU) for promotion of education and literacy entitled “Voice of Education”.

Speaking after inaugurating the FM Radio Channel 96.6/Voice of Education on Friday, Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah admired the University Teachers and students of SMIU have done a very timely needed job to promote and develop the education and literacy through electronic media.

He appreciated that 24 hour broadcasting services by (SMIU) University is a big challenge, thus, he hoped that SMIU with achieve great success, in near future.  Mumtaz Ali Shah noted that the faculties of Computer Science, Environmental Science and Media & Mass Communication are big achievements to strengthen the carrier of our educated youth, in future.

Earlier, VC-SMIU Dr. Muhammad Ali Shaikh briefed that educationist Hassan Ali Affendi established Sindh Madrasa in 1885, Quaid-e-Azam remained its student from 1887 to 1892, in 1943 the Sindh Madrasa was upgraded as college.

He also informed that now the Campuses of SMIU are also being constructed in Malir and Hawks Bay.  SMIU Souvenir was also presented to Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah.

The Nation 

Related Stories 

Dawn: SMIU’s FM radio inaugurated

The News: Due to IT, today’s media is not confined within local boundaries: CS

ISLAMABAD: Advocating the right to freedom of speech through digital mediums, Bolo Bhi – a not-for-profit geared towards advocacy, policy and research in the areas of gender rights, government transparency, Internet access, digital security and privacy – has called on the government of Pakistan, and especially institutions responsible for governance of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), to immediately lift the ban on Internet in FATA and allow Internet access to its citizens as they are constitutionally entitled to.

Internet services have been suspended in Fata since June 12, 2016 following a dispute at the Torkham border between Afghan and Pakistani forces. Over a year later, the Internet ban is still in effect, disrupting communications throughout the area and affecting over 5 million citizens within the seven agencies of Fata.

According to Bolo Bhi’s independent findings online, most areas in North and South Waziristan Agencies currently lack broadband connectivity, while Khyber, Bajaur, and Kurram Agencies have broadband connections limited to larger towns.

The bigger problem is that mobile Internet services are unavailable to users in Fata.

Mobile Internet connectivity holds major potential for access to information for citizens. With an estimated 67% mobile phone connection penetration in Pakistan, the number of mobile Internet users is expected to grow exponentially from the current level of 43 million users today, according to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority figures.

aIt goes without saying that in the 21st century, the Internet is essential for political, social, and economic interaction as well as the sharing of information. The Internet shutdown has gravely hindered these aspects of quotidian life, from communication between family members across the globe to the circulation of news.

The News International

درخواستوں کی وصولی کے لئے دوسرا اعلان
آخری تاریخ 20 اگست 2017ء

پاکستان پریس فاؤنڈیشن (پی پی ایف) کی جانب سے فیلوشپ برائے تحقیقاتی رپورٹنگ کےلئے درخواستیں موصول کی جارہی ہیں۔
فیلوشپس کے لئے درخواستوں کی موصولی “پاکستان میں تحقیقاتی صحافت میں معاونت” کے پراجیکٹ کا حصہ ہیں جس کا مقصد تحقیقاتی صحافت کو فروغ دینا اور میڈیا سے وابستہ افراد کو عوامی دلچسپی کے امور بشمول حکومتی نظم و نسق، شفافیت، صنف، بدعنوانی اور انسانی حقوق کے بارے میں گہرائی سے کی جانے والی رپورٹس کے بارے میں مدد فراہم کرنا ہے۔
فیلوشپس میں صلاحیت سازی کے لیے ورکشاپس کے علاوہ ادارتی اور تکنیکی معاونت بھی فراہم کی جائے گی تا کہ ایسی تحقیقاتی رپورٹس تیار کرنے میں مدد کی جاسکے جو صحافت کے پیشہ ورانہ اصولوں اور قانونی معیارات کے مطابق ہوں۔ فیلوشپ کا دورانیہ تین ماہ اورمعاوضہ ساٹھ ہزارروپے ہے۔ معاوضے کی ادائیگی کا انحصار اہداف کی تکمیل پر ہے۔
منتخب امیدواروں کو سینئر صحافیوں کے ساتھ کام کرنے کا موقع ملے گا جو فیلوشپ کے دوران ادارتی رہنما کا کردارادا کریں گے۔
پرنٹ، ٹیلی ویژن، ریڈیو اور آن لائن میڈیا میں کم از کم تین سال کا تجربہ رکھنے والے صحافی فیلوشپس کے لیے درخواستں جمع کروانے کے اہل ہیں۔ بلخصوص بلوچستان، فاٹا، گلگت بلتستان اور آزاد کشمیر کے صحافیوں کواہلیت کے معیار میں رعائیت دی جا سکتی ہے۔
درکار دستاویزات:
۔ پروفیشنل ریزیومے/سی وی حالیہ تصویر کے ساتھ
(۔ مکمل اسٹوری پروپوزل فارم (ڈاؤنلوڈ کرنے کے لیے کلک کیجیے
۔ شائع یا نشر کی گئی خبروں کے تین لنکس/نمونے

  پر بھیجیں ppf@pakistanpressfoundation.org درخواستیں
درخواست بھیجنے کی آخری تاریخ 20 اگست 2017ء، شام 5 بجے ہے۔ اس کے بعد بھیجی گئی درخواستوں کو شامل نہیں کیا جائے گا۔
صرف شارٹ لسٹ ہونے والے امیدواروں سےرابطہ کیا جائے گا۔

تحقیقاتی رپورٹنگ فیلوشپ کے پہلے مرحلے کے ورکشاپ کی وڈیو نیچے دیئے گئے لنک پر دیکھی جا سکتی ہے ۔

There has been a clear deterioration in the safety of journalists, the problem of impunity and of freedom of expression online. These were the main findings of the report submitted to the 120^th session of UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), in collaboration with IFEX, the global network defending and promoting the right to freedom of expression and information, and RIDH, the International Network of Human Rights.

The recommendations in the PPF-IFEX-RIDH report include that the government should appoint special prosecutors for attacks on journalists, start monitoring the judicial process, and ensure the implementation of the minimum laws that it has for the harassment of women in the workplace. There is a need to revisit the extent of powers that are enjoyed by the regulatory authorities, especially by PEMRA: before taking action against the media they should get judicial approval, or there should be a fair process. The Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) also needs to be revisited. We need to look again at the defamation laws and bring them in line with the minimum requirements which are there. These are the very minimum things that the government should do if it claims to be promoting freedom of expression.

Pakistan was reviewed for the first time by the UN Human Rights Committee on 11 and 12 July. The Committee, which consists of 18 independent experts, is mandated to oversee the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Pakistan ratified the ICCPR in 2010, and as such is bound to respect it.

The UNHRC met to analyze the situation in Pakistan and will make recommendations aimed at promoting and protecting human rights in the country.

The Committee had highlighted in its List of Issues (shared with Pakistan prior to the meeting) its concerns about increasing control of telecommunications by the state and several Pakistani agencies, such as the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA), as well as the censorship of television programs and websites.

During the examination of Pakistan, the UN Human Rights Committee tackled issues regarding freedom of expression, including blasphemy legislation and anti-terror laws, impunity for crimes committed against journalists, and an overly restrictive environment for the electronic media and film industry. Despite these concerns, the government delegation insisted that there is an “unprecedented level of freedom of the media available in Pakistan” and further claimed that all cases of terrorist violence against the media are addressed by the government and the judiciary, despite the evidence of high impunity presented by civil society organizations.

The experts on the Committee noted concerns regarding impunity for crimes committed against journalists and cited PPF’s figures, stating that 73 journalists had been killed since 2002 with only five convictions for these crimes thus far.

The Committee requested detailed information and statistics regarding crimes against journalists and subsequent investigations, prosecutions and convictions, as well as the same information regarding other crimes.

In response, the delegation of Pakistan stated that the allegations of a culture of impunity were inaccurate and alleged that crimes against journalists were a result of terrorists attempting to silence the media. Pakistan government delegation stressed that it investigates all cases of attacks on journalists as well as allegations of crimes committed by state agencies. However, the government failed to provide statistics on the investigations, prosecutions and convictions of these crimes as requested on numerous occasions by Committee members, confirming doubts about their commitment to fight impunity.

The Committee also reminded the government that criminal sanctions for defamation, often used to target dissident voices in the media, are not in line with the CCPR, and questioned whether the government had any plans or had taken any action to decriminalize defamation.

The Committee also raised serious concerns regarding challenges to freedom of expression online and the increasingly antagonistic regulatory environment for the electronic media and film industry.

Members of the Committee also raised concerns regarding the Code of Conduct issued by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority. The Committee noted that there had been more than 20 suspensions of media channels in the past four years, and wondered what safeguards and oversight mechanisms were in place to ensure the authority did not violate freedom of expression. The delegation did not respond to these concerns.

One expert raised numerous concerns about the broad powers of the PTA expanded through the 2016 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). This law enables the state body to restrict access to information and issue guidelines to information service providers on the internet without judicial oversight. Despite the government’s claim that the powers granted to the PTA are aligned with international standards, one expert requested detailed information on how this is possible without independent judicial oversight.

In response to these concerns, the delegation of Pakistan explained that open consultations in the drafting of PECA had been held, however, it noted that submissions received from civil society were vague; and, the delegation added, the final version of the act was a reasonable compromise between opposing opinions. They also ensured that there is a system of checks and balances within the PECA and that the powers of the PTA must be in line with the Constitution ensuring sufficient limitations on power.

Now that the Human Rights Committee has completed its initial examination of Pakistan, it will take note of the current human rights situation in the country and will publish its Concluding Observations on July 28, 2017. This document, which will include a list of recommendations, will provide the government with concrete steps it should take to amend its human rights record; it will also equip civil society with the tools they need to efficiently pressure the Government to make the necessary changes.

Responding to Pakistan’s UN review, Owais Aslam Ali, Secretary General of PPF, stressed two main sources of limitations on freedom of expression – threats to the physical safety of journalists and the policy framework in Pakistan. He said restrictions implemented by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) as reminiscent of the days of dictatorship.

Ali hoped that the government wouldbe more forthcoming in its written responses and take the safety of journalists seriously. He welcomed the government’s decision to set up an endowment fund for journalists who are injured or killed, but added that it does not address the issue of bringing to justicethose who inflict violence on journalists. Unless you tackle the impunity, simply paying the victims is not going to end attacks on journalists, Ali said.

Matthew Redding, Campaigns and Advocacy Coordinator of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX),noted that these limitations on freedom of expression have resulted in a citizenry that is deprived of important information.  He said government delegation seemed in many cases reluctant to even acknowledge there was a problem. Even when presented with very credible information from the experts, particularly with regards to threats against journalists and the violence that they faced, they seemed to pin this almost entirely on terrorists rather than accepting any sort of government responsibility for these attacks.

Links:

Freedom of Expression report submitted to UNHRC by PPF, IFEX & RIDH

“There is a need for all media within Pakistan to unite”: Pakistan Press Foundation

Responding to Pakistan’s UN review: In conversation with Owais Aslam Ali and Matthew Redding

Pakistan dismisses civil society concerns regarding freedom of expression before UN Committee

UN prepares to examine civil and political rights in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is not resorting to cellular interference in Held Jammu and Kashmir, but in fact it is trying to resolve the issue.According to a Pakistan Telecommunication Authority top official, the issue of spill over signal is across the border and both the countries are facing interference.

“We have several emails to TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) about interference from Indian operators in Pakistan” said PTA official. Official said that Pakistani Telecom authority took up the issue at World Radio Communication Congress also.

We tried to arrange bilateral meetings on the sideline of WRC, this month but Indian delegation did not showed any interest, official said.
Indian media flashed the issue recently, after Anil Gupta, Regional Business Head of Aircel-Northern Zone alleged that Pakistan is resorting to cellular interference in Jammu and Kashmir by increasing frequency of the bandwidth allotted to the telecom companies, which is affecting the local services in the border areas of Jammu region.

He said that the interference is highest in border villages and urban areas of Samba and Rajouri districts and subscribers of these areas were regularly complaining about poor mobile and internet services. “The problem is not alone with the Aircel but with all the cellular companies operating in Jammu and Kashmir and through a joint representation, a complaint has been filed in this context with the DoT, Government of India”, Gupta said. In an apparent bias against Pakistan, Gupta further alleged Pakistan was trying to increase its influence by sending strong signals in border area.

“Pakistan, in an attempt to increase its area of influence in Jammu and Kashmir has been trying to clash its bandwidth with Indian Cellular companies on the borders of Jammu region”, Gupta said according to Indian media.But Pakistani officials claim that the delay is from Indian side. “We have been communicating with Indian authorities to solve the issue. During the recent meetings including conference in Geneva, we initiated the issue with Indian delegation, but we are still waiting for any reply from Indian side, top PTA official said.

The Nation

ISLAMABAD – PTA on Sunday said that all the Black Berry services, including Enterprise Services (BES) would continue in Pakistan, if the cellular companies provide law enforcing agencies access to its BES services.

It is a wrong perception that PTA is going to ban Blackberry services in the country, instead we have been asking the company to provide us access to its secure Enterprise Services (BES) from last many years, and now finally, we have issued them notice that if they don’t provide us access to BES data, in next 90 days, we would block BES services, in the country, a top official told The Nation.
He said, even if the BES services are blocked, the Canadian handset manufacturer’s customers in the country would continue using Internet and other services on their phones.
There are between 4000-5000 Blackberry users in the country.

The official explained that under BES any enterprise could create a secure internal mailing system, and that might be used for any terrorist or anti-state activity.

It is a legal demand, as the company has been providing access to its BES all over the world, including neighbouring country India, he said.

Last week, Ministry of Interior reportedly decided to block the service in Pakistan, issuing directives to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to implement the decision from December 1, 2015.

According to sources PTA has sent a letter to the cellular operators to either provide security agencies access to BES or block the services by November 30, 2015.
However, the sources confirmed that if companies comply with government demand, its BES services would be allowed to continue.

The Nation

After verifying the strength of the response mechanism placed by the PTA to handle blasphemous material on the Internet next week, the government will forward the issue of re-opening of YouTube to the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), it is learnt.

“We are actively pursuing this sensitive issue to ensure the blockage of viewership of blasphemous film “Innocence of Muslim” in Pakistan, but we want to ensure placing of an effective system under the PTA to handle complaints of its re-loading on the YouTube,” Minister of State for Information Technology, Anusha Rehman, said when The News sought her comments on Friday.

To another query about grey trafficking monitoring system, the minister said after the ICH policy, the LDI operators in 2012 contributed Rs270 million towards the monitoring of grey trafficking which will have interface to PTA and this system would be in place by September 15.

However, the sources said the PTA authorities would brief the minister of state on the strength of their complaint handling mechanism on coming Monday.

The PTA, the sources said, replied back to an official communication sent out by the Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT) about response mechanism on complaints in case of reloading of blasphemous film or pornography, stating that the PTA had set up a toll-free number and complaint email (complaint@pta.gov.pk) processed by the Services Division of PTA where blasphemous URLs can be sent.

The MoIT had given a three-day deadline to the PTA to apprise them about complaint handling mechanism after which this issue will be forwarded to the IMC for decision.

Keeping in view the sensitivity of the issue, the letter states that a comprehensive mechanism was already in place whereby upon receipt of complaints all obnoxious content relating to blasphemous or pornographic is blocked.

Sources in the PTA said that this complaint cell was established in 2006 and in 2009 Complaint Management System was put in place which was also shared with cellular companies at that time.

Taking decisions on blocking of content does not fall under the jurisdiction of PTA, as it is the domain of IMC (Inter-Ministerial Committee) which comprises different stakeholders including the intelligence agencies under the chairmanship of Federal Secretary MoIT.

However, the sources in MoIT say an effective enforcement on the directives of PTA was a problematic area and they cited different examples such as the regulator remained unable to enforce its directive on spam filters.

They said the PTA also remained unable to install filters in accordance with the policy directive of MoIT. “There is need to understand the difference between the mandate of the ministry and regulator, as the PTA is not under the direct control of MoIT,” said the official sources.

The sources also pointed out that there were some top guns who in official briefing claimed that there were eight million URLs having blasphemous film and it was not possible for them to clean such a massive URLs. They had argued that only 0.5 million URLs could be blocked in Pakistan.But after the PML-N took the reins of power, the minister of state for IT formed a 14-member committee which identified only 4,000 URLs.

The News