The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) website was recently blocked by the authorities concerned before the ban was lifted on Nov 22.

While one keeps hearing rumours that the ban on YouTube will be lifted, we were rewarded with yet another ban on the IMDb website. Both actions are tantamount to a violation of our constitutional rights.

If Pakistan wishes to have ‘democracy’, such nonsensical and fundamentalist-mindset type bans simply serve to expose this country as a nation of intolerant hypocrites devoid of all sense of logic, ethics and morals.

Such hypocrites are only too keen to take offence at the slightest pretext while they continue to indulge in every form of corruption and anti-Islamic activity and then cower and hide behind the cloak of religion.

In Muslim countries such as Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, Malaysia and Indonesia, YouTube and IMDb are available for all to view and have never been banned, except in this land of the pure.

I need not elaborate on the reputation and standing of those countries before the rest of the world and where Pakistan stands in comparison to them.

This country and the mentality of those at the helm have a lot to think about if they wish to be taken seriously and respected as a people and a nation.

Such knee-jerk reactions of banning these websites at one’s whim and fancy simply because a couple of videos (out of millions) have been termed blasphemous have resulted in ‘ban fatigue’ and everyone is sick and tired of this absurd hypocrisy.

If someone disagrees with the contents of a few books, does that give them the right to burn down a whole library?

If Pakistan seeks to project itself as a God-fearing, secular, tolerant and pious Muslim state instead of a Taliban stooge and forcibly imposing morals and values on its people, then it seriously needs to get its act together.

M. ABBASI
Karachi