Freedom of Expression

PTA blocks Wikipedia over blasphemous content

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...

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‘Hate speech’ case against TV anchor discharged

A judicial magistrate on Friday discharged a case of “hate speech” registered against TV anchor Imran Riaz Khan by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and ordered his immediate release. The FIA produced the BOL News anchor before Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Virk to seek his physical remand. Advocate...

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Wikipedia ‘downgrade’

ATTEMPTS to police the internet by states, often by giving opaque justifications for the action, are never a good idea. It should be recalled that this nation was deprived of YouTube in 2012 for three years after a crude anti-Islam film was uploaded on the...

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Live screening of Pakistan’s UPR session

Member states of United Nations Human Rights Council recommended Pakistan to strengthen human rights intuitions, protect the rights of vulnerable groups, abolish capital punishment, sign the international convention on enforced disappearance and investigates all reports of intimidation and violence against journalists and human rights defenders. The...

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