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The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday arrested three individuals in connection with a case pertaining to the publishing of blasphemous content on social media being heard by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The three were presented before an anti-terrorism court and handed over to the FIA for a seven-day remand.
The laptops of those arrested have also been seized for forensic analysis.
Justice Shaukut Aziz Siddiqui of the IHC has been hearing a petition seeking the removal of blasphemous content from social media.
Earlier this week, the interior ministry informed the court that one arrest had been made in connection with the case, while the names of several others have been put on the Exit Control List.
The case has generated considerable attention at the government level.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif earlier this month directed the state machinery to find those responsible for putting blasphemous content on social media and bring them to justice without delay.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said Pakistan will represent the global Muslim community on having blasphemous content removed from social media platforms and take the fight to "any extent necessary" in order to get the message across.
On March 16, the National Assembly also passed a resolution condemning blasphemous content posted on social media and unanimously agreed to the formation of a committee of parliamentary leaders to monitor such content.
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Comments (42) Closed
Mar 24, 2017 02:18pm
Politicians will never do anything seriously for convicting these people because they want to please their real masters.
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Mar 24, 2017 02:26pm
Authorities knows how to abuse the laws and policies ....
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Mar 24, 2017 02:32pm
@aslam shaikh then they will be exposed in a way they do not like. simple.
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Mar 24, 2017 02:43pm
@aslam shaikh These convictions will bring more fear and nothing else. As a result none of the huge IT companies will ever think to set up any research and development center in Pakistan. India is leading in IT because of liberal policies. Many of my friends with stakes in IT have already shifted their businesses from Pakistan to Malayasia, Singapore and Dubai. We are going down the drain and still we are happy. Ultimately Highly educated individuals have to leave Pakistan because of lack of opportunities. These politicians will not suffer as they are realtors and retailers. Such environment of fear will be a setback for our middle class educated youth only.
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Mar 24, 2017 02:50pm
@Awan
It's not only IT sector. Its a signal for all intelligentsia to leave Pakistan.
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Mar 24, 2017 02:51pm
Punish each and everyone involved . Please Ch. Nisar spearhead a global campaign and take all countries esp Muslim countries on board to press upon social media to act against blasphemous content.
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Mar 24, 2017 02:52pm
@Awan
great thinking
wish all could think rationally like you
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Mar 24, 2017 02:56pm
Good job
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Mar 24, 2017 02:55pm
@Imtiaz Mahmood Since I have a background in IT and I interact almost daily with entrepreneurs from Europe so I was stating about it. But I agree with you. We cannot compete with the emerging hubs of technology like Vietnam, India, Malayasia, Indonesia, Hongkong and South Korea etc. Even Bagladesh is going to cross us in the coming years. We are lost in the game. I no longer even try to convince any entrepreneur to invest in Pakistan. Since I have no arguments left to convince them to choose us over the liberal developing economies. How can I convince anyone when I cannot guarantee that the state will not abduct me based on cybercriminal laws the next day!!!. I cannot guarantee my safety, let alone the safety of foreign investors.
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Mar 24, 2017 03:07pm
@Awan
These social media activists are accused of desecrating our respected personalities. Do you think speaking ill of such personalities is the only free speech.
You mean if we don't allow people to humiliate then IT companies will leave Pakistan?
Unable to understand your logic?
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Mar 24, 2017 03:20pm
@fahd
Why do we have such discussions anyway. How many other civilised countries indulge in this subject ?
How come this subject has become so important in the twentieth century and only in Pakistan.
Are we becoming more honest and decent people with no poverty ?
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Mar 24, 2017 03:25pm
@Tariq Your argument reflects the general mindset of our country. Anyway I cannot argue with you. I have left Pakistan and I am happy with my decision. Now I live in a secular country, where my belief Islam is respected and I respect others . In this manner I live a harmonious life. I do not want to argue, because Religious Emotionalism and Realism are two different entities.
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Mar 24, 2017 03:38pm
@Milton
Correction Milton, it's not 20th century. We are in 21st Century - the century of information in global village.
We are building a barrier of isolation from rest of the world, or at least against successful western scientific successful world.
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Mar 24, 2017 04:25pm
Without educating young minds through proper schooling, how to be an effective local and Global virtual citizen, I think our govt will not be able to handle such issues. The rotten educational system needs to be aligned with the demands of time and needs otherwise scuh issues will occuring & reoccurring manytimes in the future.
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Mar 24, 2017 04:31pm
@pakistani
Instead of increasing science content in school curriculum, we are increasing religious content. Science inculcates skills, which raises production and leads to prosperity.
Prosperity increases human and women rights.
Pakistan is ranked 143 among 144 nations in treatment of women, yemen being 144th. It seems we want to dethrone Yemen from last position by empowering mullaism.
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Mar 24, 2017 06:25pm
I didn't know about this blasphemous content. I think same is the case with majority. Media advertised it so much that those websites which were unknown became known to all. Shouldn't there be case against such media as well?
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Mar 24, 2017 07:17pm
@fahd... You really believe that we have some say in the world where we can spearhead a global campaign? Please don't delude yourself.
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Mar 24, 2017 07:32pm
@aslam shaikh the we'll go outside them..
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Mar 24, 2017 07:31pm
and expose the politicians too.
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Mar 24, 2017 07:38pm
@Tariq... I wonder if we will ever know exactly what these accused have actually purported to have said /written. Or will it just be a pogrom and a mob going after the person and his family as usual.
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Mar 24, 2017 07:51pm
@Awan i hope all like you leave Pakistan for good
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Mar 24, 2017 08:00pm
I am baffled by the priority of this government, there are so many more pressing issues faced by the people of Pakistan, cases upon cases of corruption and others are clogging up courts times, putting few more in jail over this will accomplish what? Go for the real issues, that affect our lives. He said she said does not require this type of attention. so its disrespectful and against the law, so is corruption, wasting countries money, abusing power and money, what about all that?
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Mar 24, 2017 08:04pm
@Awan All this is nothing but a way to show please how good these politicians are,how they want to preserve whats right, if they really want to make a difference, start with everything that is against Islam, corruption and misleading people, stealing should be top of the list.
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Mar 24, 2017 08:06pm
@aslam shaikh GREAT
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Mar 24, 2017 08:06pm
@Awan India, Malaysia, China and Singapore does not have liberal policies. Say something against their religion or state and the company will be thrown out. You see what happened to OM Puri. Pakistan has been more liberal than most countries. Investment is not only connected to Liberalism.
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Mar 24, 2017 08:10pm
Well done FIA and HC for coming out to serve justice. Those who are worried about IT industry were mum when Axact and BOL were shut down on one news report from USA and thousands were laid off.
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Mar 24, 2017 08:21pm
FIA..what about thousands of pending cases on abuses blackmails and identity thefts over social media? Will you do anything on that too? I know it won't please your masters..but have some shame. Your cybercrime cell is a joke if not less.
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Mar 24, 2017 08:46pm
Respectable and horable people do not sell their values. You earn respect by being good to your own values. Those who think being liberal is to disrespect your own values is sickening.
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Mar 24, 2017 08:54pm
@SHAH
Long term consequences are going to be dire with irreversible damage. For the sake of few don't terrorise all ...majority know their duties, responsibility well, in absence of law!
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Mar 24, 2017 09:00pm
Most content emanates outside the nation.
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Mar 24, 2017 09:28pm
@Prateik exactly right most content emanates from outside the country and we can't stop it. Nature of internet is such that it's not possible to effectively sensor it. Focus on those things is just a way for our politicians and media to distract the nation from real progress and issues.
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Mar 24, 2017 10:33pm
Do not understand what has this got to do with IT research/Companies not bringing their business to Pakistan. Only recently UK and other European governments have asked the likes of yahoo and Google to remove objectionable material from their sites does this mean that Google will stop their UK based evelopment/R&D efforts ?
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Mar 24, 2017 11:01pm
@Awan I am sure you must have noticed the recent UK MPs slamming of the internet giants (Facebook, Twitter and Youtube) for their failure to stop hate speech material and for their lame excuses. Same is true of the EU which has warned them against hate speech material and of consequences of that. Do you think internet giants and IT companies will move from there to elsewhere? Hate speech under the guise of free speech is absolutely unacceptable and illegal everywhere and it must be checked by all means possible.
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Mar 25, 2017 12:57am
@fahd: World is laughing. For Pakistan, one step ahead and three steps backward is the name of game.
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Mar 25, 2017 12:53am
So facebook won't be banned now?
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Mar 25, 2017 01:21am
@Awan good reply to Tariq
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Mar 25, 2017 02:59am
Real blasphemy is when people in power intentionally or unintentionally disobey basic Islamic covenants such as. prevention of bribery & corruption, cleanliness, equal justice, education, abuse of children, education... list goes on an on. When was the last time anyone including PM or IK or NC took a stand against poverty, corruption or equal justice? This whole blasphemy trumpet is just deception to keep everyone away from the real problem. The guys in power are magicians not public servants certainly NOT Islamic defenders by any means.
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Mar 25, 2017 04:57am
This medieval mindset might help a chosen few thugs earn some Riyals, but it will do nothing to solve the critical problems of our society.
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Mar 25, 2017 04:58am
People criticize each and every religion. Athiests and agnostics make fun of every religion. By doing this, we are actually giving them incentives to make fun of our religion. Just ignore them please.
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Mar 25, 2017 06:25am
@Imtiaz Mahmood Not really. It is a signal for the 'intelligentsia' to be intelligent.
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Mar 25, 2017 07:37am
@Taimur Very good put each and every one behind bars.
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Mar 25, 2017 08:20am
world listen to those who are powerful and rich. If Pakistan becomes powerful and rich, world will listen to Pakistan and will pay respect to Pakistan.
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