Pakistani Muslim protesters cross barbed wires as they attempt to reach the US embassy during a demonstration against the anti-Islam film in Islamabad on September 14, 2012. – AFP Photo

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority (Pemra) and the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to block blasphemous content on a social media website, DawnNews reported.

The apex court issued the order after taking a suo motu notice of blasphemous content on the website.

The court had taken a suo motu notice of the blasphemous film and ordered the registrar office to prepare a notice on it.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that Pemra and PTA should exercise greater caution regarding the material that is present on the Internet.

Moreover, the chief justice remarked that the PTA chairman would be summoned to court.

Justice Khilji Arif Hussain also remarked that the non-removal of blasphemous content from the website was unfortunate.

The court’s decision came in the wake of widespread protests in Pakistan and other countries with sizeable Muslim populations against an anti-Islam film available on the Internet.

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