Case Update Status

Wikipedia was unblocked after three working days of the ban; on February 13, 2023, authorities restored wikipedia. (April 5, 2023)

Summary of Case

"The Cabinet Committee on Wikipedia, Thursday, reprimanded Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for blocking the website in the country and recommended prior consultation for closing any website in the future. Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haque chaired the Ministerial Committee meeting regarding the blockage of Wikipedia, here on Thursday. Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar and Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar attended the meeting. Addressing the meeting, Haque said that the Ministry of IT and Telecom must be consulted before closing any website in the future. Blocking any website means disconnection from the digital world which will lead to both social and economic disadvantages, he added. The federal minister for IT said that the Ministry of IT and Telecom is against those steps which impede the development process. He emphasized the need of creating awareness among the masses for not visiting those websites containing objectionable content. Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar said that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) authorities can consult the Ministry of Law and Justice on directions getting from any side. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered the restoration of access to Wikipedia with immediate effect. Further, the prime minister constituted the Cabinet Committee Comprising Minister for IT and Telecom (Chair), Minister for Law and Justice, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Minister for Commerce, and Minister for Communications. The committee may co-opt any expert members or seek an opinion from expert individuals/organizations to reach its findings. Terms of Reference of the Committee are as under a) To review the suitability of PTA action of blocking Wikipedia to restrict access to certain sacrilegious and objectionable content;b) To explore and recommend alternative technical measures for removal or blocking access to objectionable content posted on Wikipedia and other online information sites, given our social cultural, and religious sensitivities, on the touchstone of proportionality; and, c) To give any other recommendations to control unlawful online content in a balanced manner. Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar said that we endorse unblocking of Wikipedia on the directives of the prime minister. Additional Secretary (Incharge) Ministry of IT and Telecommunication Mohsin Mushtaq, Member Legal, Member Telecom, and the PTA authorities were also present in the meeting."

Category of Incident

Censorship

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Group: 08039-Other acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

Reported By

Business Recorder

Date of incident

10

Month

February

Year

2023

Name of affected person

No person was affected

Other affected persons

Not other person affected

Name of affected organization

Wikipedia

Other affected organizations

No other organization was affected

Action by

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)

City

Nationwide

Province

Nationwide

Designation

Website

Professional category

Website

Age of victim

Not applicable as PTA blocked Wikipedia.

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date compensation paid by others: No compensation announced

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: No

Court where case was presented: Case was not presented in court.

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Case was not presented in court.

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Case was not presented in court.

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Not required to contact

APNS

N/A

CPNE

N/A

PBA

N/A

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Not required to contact

Employer organization

Not required to contact

Press Club Status

Press club 1: Not required to contact

Press club 2: N/A

Press club 3: N/A