Tag: civil society

  • Information Minister admits X still restricted in Pakistan

    Information Minister admits X still restricted in Pakistan

    Following earlier assertions that social media giant X, formerly known as Twitter, was accessible to online users, Information Minister Atta Tarar has now conceded that the popular social networking app remains suspended in the country.

    During an interview with a local news channel on Monday, Tarar acknowledged, “Twitter was already banned when we assumed power, and there is no official notification regarding its status.” Emphasising the necessity for a charter delineating “do’s and don’ts,” the information minister advocated for discussions among political parties to establish “red lines” that should not be crossed on the platform.

    Expressing his dismay over allegations against women, abuses, misconduct, and smear campaigns targeting the sacrifices of martyrs on social media, Tarar highlighted the need for accountability.

    It is noteworthy that Tarar dismissed inquiries about X’s suspension in Pakistan on March 13, stating, “Twitter [X] is operational. Tweets continue to be posted on Twitter as well. If there is an official notification mandating its closure, then it should be presented for discussion.”

    The continued unavailability of X, a vital source of information, to millions of users in Pakistan for over a month now, since its suspension preceding the February 8 general election, raises concerns. Despite various court orders urging the restoration of uninterrupted access, users have faced sporadic disruptions and obstacles.

    Furthermore, on March 13, human rights activists and civil society organisations issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the escalating instances of internet shutdowns and social media platform blocks, advocating for the immediate reinstatement of X.

  • Justice Ayesha Malik is part of this year’s BBC 100 inspiring women

    Justice Ayesha Malik is part of this year’s BBC 100 inspiring women

    The first female judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, (SCP) Justice Ayesha A. Malik, has been listed as one of the 100 most influential and inspiring women of 2022 by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC ).

    On Wednesday, BBC revealed the names of 100 influential and inspiring women from around the world who made it to the privileged list for this year. Among the honourees is Justice Malik, the only Pakistani woman to have been featured on the list.

    The BBC highlighted that Justice Ayesha has authored judgments protecting the rights of women, including her “landmark judgment which banned the so-called two-finger test of rape victims” which was performed during the examination of sexual assault cases.

    “Alongside her role on the Supreme Court, Malik also conducts training for judges around the world and has inaugurated conferences for women judges in Pakistan, encouraging debate around and including the gender perspective in the justice system”.

    Earlier this year, the 56-year-old judge made history after being sworn in as the top court’s first female judge. She will become the first woman Chief Justice of Pakistan after Justice Yahya’s retirement in January 2030.

    Her elevation to the apex court was hailed by human rights activists and civil society across the country.

  • Civil society, political collectives condemn PECA Ordinance

    Civil society, political collectives condemn PECA Ordinance

    Civil society organisations and political collectives have issued a joint statement, condemning the enactment of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022.

    “The Ordinance runs afoul of Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution of Pakistan which guarantees freedom of expression. Furthermore, the process by which the amendments have been made, arbitrarily and via Ordinance bypassing parliament, is an affront to democratic value,” said the statement.

    The statement also addressed the misuse of Section 20 against “journalists, political opponents and survivors of gender-based violence”.

    It further added that it is “obvious that the sole purpose of this Ordinance is to make it criminally punishable to criticise the state and its officials, against settled jurisprudence that extends protections through defamation to private persons as opposed to public figures who lesser protections.”

    The statement called on citizens of Pakistan to recognise this Ordinance as an attack on their constitutional right to free expression and access to information.

    It demanded that the government immediately withdraw the Ordinance and refrain from presenting it for assent once the three-month lifespan of the
    Ordinance lapses. “Instead, we call upon all political parties to repeal Section 20 should be done through the parliament given that it runs afoul the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression.”

    Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Ahsan Bhoon has announced to challenge the Ordinance.

    In a joint statement, the Opposition termed PECA “fascist and dictatorship”. The statement was released after a meeting between Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership.

  • Politicians, civil society unite with journalists, support protest against media authority bill

    Politicians, civil society unite with journalists, support protest against media authority bill

    As journalists continue with sit-in outside of the Parliament House, against the government’s proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA), prominent leaders from political parties, student unions, and members of the civil society also joined in to show solidarity.

    The protest began on Sunday and is said to continue until President Dr Arif Alvi’s address to the joint session of parliament on Monday.

    Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Information Sec­retary Marriyum Aurangzeb, and MNA Mohsin Dawar, among others, visited the protest site on Sunday night to extend their support.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president, Shehbaz Sharif speaking on the media authority bill termed it as “black law” and expressed solidarity with journalists. He said the media had fought a war for its freedom and no one could snatch it. 

    https://twitter.com/pmln_org/status/1437373043542736902

    “The government doesn’t have the guts to pass it and we won’t allow it,” added Shehbaz warning the government against passing the “black law” or bear the consequences.

    He tweeted in solidarity with the protestors and said, “PTI government is demolishing every institution that represents democracy. We support journalists in their struggle against PMDA.”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Monday slammed the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMDA), saying that the proposed bill is an “attack on the freedom of media and judiciary.”

    The PPP chairman vowed his party will not let the government get away with snatching livelihoods from the masses. He showed solidarity with journalists who have been attacked, saying that the PPP “will not be satisfied till they [journalists] are not satisfied.”

    “Even if they manage to have this black law passed, journalists will [struggle to] have it abolished,” he added.

    Bilawal warned the government that if it tried to have the PMDA law passed via force, the PPP will challenge it in the courts. The PPP chairman said he feared the government will try to pass the bill during a joint sitting of the Parliament.

    Bilawal said his party will attend the joint sitting of the Parliament with a two-point agenda; to advocate for the rights of 20,000 government employees who were sacked and to campaign for freedom of speech.

    PPP leaders, Senator Sherry Rehman and Raza Rabbani, visited the protest camp and addressed the protesters.

    “We have repealed all the ordinance regarding media censorship, whether it was Ayub Khan or Zia-Ul-Haq. This is why the government won’t bring this on the Parliament floor because we will repeal the PMDA bill and they are scared”

    Marriyum Aurangzeb, along with PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal, also visited the protest site on Monday.

    Addressing the protesters, Iqbal criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for “attacking and attempting to muzzle” the media.

    Referring to the PMDA bill, he called it a “conspiracy” and said if the bill was passed, “democracy will die in this country”.

  • Speaker Asad Qaiser lauds Shehzad Roy for his efforts against corporal punishment

    In a move welcomed by child rights organisations, the National Assembly on Tuesday passed The ICT Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill prohibiting corporal punishment in the capital, setting punishments for people physically punishing children.

    Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser lauded singer Shehzad Roy for his efforts against corporal punishment.

    The proposed law will cancel out the provisions of Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which allows physical punishment “for the benefit” of the child by guardians and teachers.

    Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code:

    Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 (No XLV) allows parents, teachers and other guardians to use moderate and reasonable corporal punishment as a means to correct the behaviour of children below 12 years of age.

    The bill was tabled by PML-N MNA Mehnaz Akbar Aziz. It will become a law after the Senate passes it and the president signs it.

    Last year, The Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and banned the practice of corporal (physical) punishment by parents, guardians and teachers on children. The decision was announced after singer-activist Shehzad Roy filed a petition in court to ban the use of violence to discipline children.