LAHORE: The civil society, including the representatives of journalists, lawyers and workers unions, has rejected and condemned the new social media rules, demanding the government repeal them immediately and issue a plan of consultation with the people who are the real stakeholders.

They said no such measure should be imposed upon the public without consultation. They expressed full support for the move of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) to protect the rights of media, digital media workers and social media activists.

They were speaking at a press conference organised by a group of journalists from the PFUJ at the Lahore Press Club on Monday.

Speakers included PFUJ Finance Secretary Zulfiqar Ali Mehtu, Punjab Union of Journalists President Qamaruz Zaman Bhatti, Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari, Imtiaz Alam of the South Asia Free Media Association (Safma), Supreme Court Bar Association former general secretary Raja Zulqarnain, Wapda Hydroelectric Workers Union Secretary Khursheed Ahmad among others.

They said the government was trying to clamp down on the basic freedoms and fundamental human rights and neither journalists nor any other part of civil society would accept these ever.

Imtiaz Alam said the new rules were a plan by the establishment to shut down free speech.

“It was earlier making an authority for the media and not it has moved to control social media – all this has been happening since long, even during the Nawaz Sharif’s regime,” he said.

“The cyber crime laws were introduced during that time but they did not know the power of technology and social media. They want a police state.”

Even the US government could not regulate Twitter and other social media platforms, how would the Pakistan government do that, he questioned.

“They (authorities) will now be using the rules against the people without any reason,” Zulfiqar Mehtu expressed his fear.

This was the third press conference held by PFUJ after Islamabad and Quetta. Mehtu said the union would soon hold a joint press conference in Karachi and Peshawar, as well.

Speaking separately to Dawn, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan former secretary general I.A. Rehman said the continuous imposition of draconian laws was not acceptable.

“The state has been constantly interfering with the press freedom and basic human rights. The Cyber Crime Act under which these rules have been made is a vulgar display of authoritarianism. By these rules, it means you are eliminating the new media in Pakistan, which leaves the monopoly of the state media, with its own narrative.”

He said the government only wanted its own narrative to be spread as it could not stand any other opinion.

“This step that will negatively impact everyone, including politicians themselves whose ideas and speech will be muzzled. This is the time to stop this from happening. All civil society must continue resisting this law and the rules,” Mr Rehman added.

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication enforced the Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, 2020 last week.

Under the set of rules regulating the social media in the country, the social media companies will be obliged to disclose any information or data to a designated investigation agency, when sought, and failure to abide by any of the provisions could entail in a fine of up to Rs500m.

The social media platforms will also be required to remove any ‘unlawful content’ pointed out to them in writing or electronically signed email within 24 hours and in emergency cases, within six hours.

The rules are a subordinate legislation under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996 and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016. Instructions may also include actions related to blocking of unlawful online content and acquisition of data or information from social media companies. The national coordinator will engage with social media companies and direct representatives of any company to appear before him in person to discuss any aspect related to operation of online system. According to the rules, the national coordinator will be the sole authority in determining the situation of emergency.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2020