Pakistan to Reflect on Social Media Ban on Grounds of Blasphemous Content

On account of the spread of 'blasphemous' images online, an Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge has called for a ban on social media sites in Pakistan.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui has come up with a suggestion that people found to have posted blasphemous content online must have their names added to the Exit Control List, thereby prohibiting them from leaving the country. 

“I will go to every extent to bring this case to its logical end and if needed I will even ban social media in Pakistan,” he is reported to have said. 

Claiming to have had lost his sleep since seeing the offensive content, Justice Siddiqui also compared the blasphemers to terrorists.

The blasphemous pages are now being removed with the help of Facebook officials. 

It is to be noted that blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad is punishable by death in Pakistan. The country has a number of religious offences listed in its penal code, including “wounding religious feelings”, “derogatory remarks” and “defiling the Quran”.

Justice Siddiqui has also appealed for the support of Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, asking him to “take some steps in his own supervision to eliminate the evil, even at the cost of blocking the entirety [of] social media.”

The case was filed by Salman Shahid (son-in-law of Maulana Abdul Aziz, of Lal Masjid), who alleged that five bloggers, Salman Haider, Ahmed Waqas Goraya, Asim Saeed, Ahmed Raza Naseer and Samar Abbas, were spreading blasphemous content through pages on social networks.

Over 2,000 people are currently rallying in Islamabad, calling for the government to take stern action. 

Attempting to Garner Votes on Grounds of Religion Impermissible: Supreme Court

                    

Prior to the crucial assembly elections in five states, the Supreme Court on Monday declared that political parties can not seek votes in the name of religion, caste or creed, saying that the parties must adhere to the principles stated within the constitution.

The judgment, which was delivered by a bench of 7 judges, declared that an appeal to voters on the grounds of Caste, Creed and Religion is Impermissible.

The bench was headed by outgoing Chief Justice of India TS Thakur, and Justice Sharad Bobde, Justice Madan Lokur and Justice Rao agreed with him that votes cannot be sought in the name of caste or religion. Three judges – Justice UU Lalit, Justice Adarsh Goel and Justice DY Chandrachud – stood for dissent.

Following the latest ruling, any attempt to garner votes on ground of religion, caste or creed will be subjected to the provisions laid under the Representation of People’s Act.

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“Relation between an individual and God is an independent choice,” the court observed, further stating that the state is forbidden to partake in any such activity.

In response to the judgement, NCP leader Majeed Memon said that the ruling could prove to be a setback for the BJP owing to their plan of bringing up the Ram Mandir issue in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh election. He further added,"Local police and EC should be alert about the kind of speeches that will be given in the coming months."

BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy, however, quoted that the latest development has nothing to do with the BJP as the party has always been free of exploiting religion for winning voters.