ISLAMABAD (June 26 2010): The government on Friday directed Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to block all the websites carrying blasphemous contents, which resulted in blockage of 17 websites. In this regard, the inter-ministerial committee for the evaluation of websites met to evaluate the websites having anti-Islamic contents. The committee also decided to block 17 websites in prescribed manner.

It was also decided that monitoring of seven other websites be ensured and if any particular link with offensive contents appears on, these links should be blocked immediately without disturbing the main websites. Following the directives of the committee, the Ministry of Information Technology directed the PTA to implement the directives without any delay.

Out of the 17 sites, links of four websites have been partially blocked while the remaining 13 have been fully blocked. The sites which are under strict monitoring include Yahoo, Google, Amazon, Bing, MSN, Hotmail and Youtube. Lahore High Court's Bahawalpur Bench had ordered to block 17 websites for carrying blasphemous content. The bench also ordered to monitor seven websites including Yahoo, Youtube etc.

The PTA chairman has been summoned to appear in the court on June 28, 2010 along with all relevant materials in this regard. According to the notification, reference to the meeting of Inter ministerial committee for the evaluation of websites held on 25-6-2010 to evaluate the websites having anti Islamic contents.

The committee has decided to block the websites in the prescribed manner. It was also decided that a vigilant monitoring of websites be ensured and if any particular link with offensive content appears on these websites, the same shall be blocked immediately without disrupting the main websites. However, blocking of e-information genuinely needed for the students/ researchers should be avoided. The compliance report may be submitted to this Division immediately.

The sites are as follows: www.islam-exposed.org (on IP level), www.inthenameofallah. org (on IP level), www.you tube.com/ahmadsQuran5 (particular link without disrupting main website of Youtube, www.you tube.com/watch?v-Mld7TpO YrY (particular link without disrupting main website of Youtube, www.youtube.com/watch?v-z8nFCXR6ugt 13. (particular link without disrupting main website of Youtube, www.skepticsannotatedbible.com (on IP level), www.jihadwatch.org (on IP level), ww.middle-east-info.org (on IP level), www.faithfreedom.org (on IP level), www.thereligionofpeace.com (on IP level) www.abrahamic-faith.com (on IP level), www.muhammadlied.com (on IP level) www.prophetofdoom .net (on IP level), www. worldthreats.com (on IP level) www.voiceofbelievers.com (on IP level), www.walidshoebat. com (on IP level) www.youtube. com/martellusislam.com (particular link without disrupting main website of Youtube. Websites to be monitored vigilantly including, www.yahoo. com, www.google.com, www. amazon.com, www.bing.com, www.msn.com, www.hotmail. com and ww.youtube.com.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010