STAFF REPORT ISB:  The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has ordered all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block numerous scandalous internet sites, specifically the audio recording of a sensual conversation between two sitting parliamentarians.

The footage of a press conference in which a lady TV artist claimed that she and a man working with a state organisation have secretly got married and they have a son, is also to be blocked.

In an email directive to all ISPs issued by Mohammad Ali, Deputy Director Enforcement, PTA, has asked them to ensure the blocking of desired web links immediately.

“PTA and MOITs process on ordering of blocking of websites has become non-transparent and questionable as it seems that Inter-Ministerial Committee is being used as a tool to censor internet for political gains instead of going after anti-Pakistan or blasphemous websites,” said Wahajus Siraj, Convener ISPAK.

With the five GSM service providers and numerous broadband service providers its has become a challenge to implement the same set of restrictions since every internet service provider has a different set of technology for content control mechanism, said another leading internet service provider on condition of anonymity.

“Blocking the most popular social media sites like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter can create a major unrest among millions of subscribers,” said the same internet service provider.

By Web Team

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