Govt not behind complaint to Twitter regarding lawyer Reema Omer's tweet: info minister

Published January 23, 2019
"This is absolutely an academic debate; why would govt question that debate?" said Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry in response to Reema Omer's tweet. — File
"This is absolutely an academic debate; why would govt question that debate?" said Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry in response to Reema Omer's tweet. — File

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has denied the government's involvement in reporting lawyer Reema Omer's tweets — that debated the status of military courts in the Constitution — to the micro-blogging site.

On Monday, Omer said that Twitter had received "official correspondence" that her tweets were in violation of the Pakistani law.

"Interesting times where 'officials' see references to the law — i.e., the Constitution + judgements of high courts — as a violation of the law," she had said.

Responding to her tweet, Chaudhry clarified that the government did not have any correspondence with Twitter over Omer's tweets.

"This is absolutely an academic debate; why would govt question that debate?" he asked.

"Thank you, Sir. Appreciate your clarification," Omer replied.

She, however, said "it leads to more questions: Is Twitter making up these emails? Is some impostor pretending to be a government official making these complaints? Or are these complaints being made 'officially', but without the government’s knowledge?"

In recent months, users, both local and international, have reported that they have received notices from Twitter labelling their tweets in violation with Pakistani law.

Earlier this month, DawnNewsTV anchor and senior journalist Mubashir Zaidi said that he had received an email from Twitter saying that his tweet regarding the murders of politician Ali Raza Abidi and SP Tahir Dawar was "in violation of Pakistani law according to a complaint it received" from Pakistan".

Opinion

Editorial

Amendment furore
Updated 15 Sep, 2024

Amendment furore

Few seem to know what is in its legislative package, and it seems like a thoroughly undemocratic exercise overall.
‘Mini’ budget chatter
15 Sep, 2024

‘Mini’ budget chatter

RUMOURS are a dime a dozen in a volatile, uncertain economy. No wonder the rumour mills continue to generate reports...
Child beggary
15 Sep, 2024

Child beggary

CHILD begging, the ugliest form of child labour, is a curse on society. Ravaged by disease, crime, exploitation and...
IMF hopes
Updated 14 Sep, 2024

IMF hopes

Constant borrowing is not the solution to the nation’s deep-seated economic woes and structural issues.
Media unity
14 Sep, 2024

Media unity

IN recent years, media owners and senior decision-makers in newsrooms across the country have found themselves in...
Grim example
Updated 14 Sep, 2024

Grim example

The state, as well as the ulema, must reiterate the fact that no one can be allowed to play executioner in blasphemy cases.