Related link<\/p>\n
![\"PBC,](\"https:\/\/www.pakistanpressfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/new-rules-framed-only-to-regulate-social-media-1581643996-4949-150x150.jpg\" "\\"PBC,")
ISLAMABAD: The top bodies representing the legal fraternity expressed concern on Friday over reports that the government is weighing a set of proposals that seek to gag the media and curtail freedom of expression and digital rights of citizens online.<\/p>\n
Abid Saqi, the Pakistan Bar Council\u2019s (PBC) vice chairman, and Syed Qalb-e-Hassan, the Supreme Court Bar Association\u2019s (SCBA) president, said the Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020 were meant to control social media. The rules were made in a secretive manner and without consultations with stakeholders like the legal fraternity, the media and civil rights groups, Mr Saqi and Mr Hassan said.<\/p>\n
Abid Saqi said the PBC believed the proposed rules, prima facie, seek to curb online free speech, invade privacy of citizens and restrict their access to information. \u201cThe proposals are not only in conflict with the spirit of Articles 14, 19 and 19A of the Constitution but also against the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Pakistan is a signatory,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The Pakistan Bar Council is of the view that the scope of the rules goes way beyond the parent legislation \u2014 the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reor\u00adganisation) Act, 1996 (XVII of 1996) and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016 (XL of 2016), the vice chairman said.<\/p>\n
Vague definitions, the non-representative nature of the proposed office of \u201cnational coordinator\u201d and arbitrariness in its proposed decision-making process reflect the government\u2019s \u201cmalicious intent\u201d behind this action, Abid Saqi alleged.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PBC is concerned that just like the Electronic Crimes Act, which was trumpeted as a law to prevent electronic crimes, but is actually being used to curb free expression online, the rules regarding social media clearly aim at enabling the state to exert more control on online content and communication between social media users instead of protecting citizens against online harm,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The PBC vice chairman said requiring social media platforms to register themselves, set up local offices and servers and adhere to local laws would ultimately result in massive online censorship of cyberspace. \u201cTherefore, the PBC rejects the proposed draconian regulations aimed at hampering social media platforms where over 60 million Pakistanis exercise their constitutional right to freedom of expression under Article 19 and the right to information under Article 19-A.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bar Council called upon the government to reverse these draconian rules as such measures hurt the nation in the guise of regulation of social media discourse.<\/p>\n
The PBC urged all political parties represented in the Senate, National Assembly and the provincial assemblies to resist these proposals.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, the nation\u2019s enforced silence will extend to people\u2019s representatives sitting in parliament, the media as well as the bar and the bench.<\/p>\n
Qalb-e-Hassan, the Supreme Court Bar Association\u2019s president, lambasted the government for its \u201cundue and unjustified restrictions\u201d upon the press outlets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe SCBA is of the firm belief that there is no concept of real democracy without free and fair functioning of media as it always plays a pivotal role and is considered to be the fourth pillar of state,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The role of Pemra since the assumption of office by the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf is debatable and questions about its neutrality are undermining it, Mr Hassan added.<\/p>\n
Prohibitions on the press and the electronic media stop intellectual growth and harm society, Qalb-e-Hassan observed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe legal fraternity will resist any attempt to snatch the right to freedom of speech, which is fundamental right guaranteed in our constitution,\u201d the SCBA president said.<\/p>\n