ISLAMABAD: The chief of Pakistan’s telecom watchdog on Monday recommended that social media users posting “inappropriate content and videos” on video streaming app TikTok should be arrested.
Wildly popular among Pakistani youth, the Chinese-owned app has been shut down by authorities multiple times since last year over “indecent” content, forcing the company to pledge to moderate uploads.
Freedom of speech advocates have long criticized what they call “creeping” government censorship and control of Pakistan’s Internet and media, which authorities deny. Dating apps have been blocked and last year Pakistani regulators asked YouTube to immediately block all videos they considered “objectionable” from being accessed in the country, a demand criticized by rights campaigners.
Amir Azeem Bajwa, the chief of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), said social media in Pakistan should be controlled according to the norms and values of the society in which it operated.
“TikTok cannot stop anyone from uploading a video, therefore, the individuals frequently posting inappropriate content and videos on the site should be arrested,” he said at a press conference in Islamabad.
Bajwa said the site has been blocked four times in Pakistan but “inappropriate and objectionable content” continued to be shared on the application.
PTA had recently received at least 1.1 million complaints against inappropriate content and blocked over 1.046 million reported links and websites, he said, suggesting that TikTok administrators should take satisfactory measures according to Pakistan’s terms and conditions for social media use.
The statement by the PTA chief came as hundreds of journalists camped outside Pakistan’s parliament on Monday to protest a proposed media law that seeks to create a new regulator and set up special tribunals to try media-related cases.
The protesters, which included journalists from all major Pakistani news channels and national and regional newspapers as well as from media outlets in the provinces, converged in front of parliament under the banner of a federal body for the rights of journalists, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government backs the proposed regulator, saying it is meant for the protection of journalists and to combat misinformation.
Arrest social media users posting ‘inappropriate’ TikTok content, Pakistani telecom watchdog chief says
https://arab.news/cch2z
Arrest social media users posting ‘inappropriate’ TikTok content, Pakistani telecom watchdog chief says
- The Chinese-owned video streaming app has been banned in Pakistan four times
- PTA chairman’s comments come amid journalists’ protests over proposed law to create new regulator
Three players set for ODI debuts as Pakistan face Bangladesh in series opener
- Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat and Shamyl Hussain to make international debuts in Dhaka
- Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi says Pakistan confident despite Bangladesh’s strong home record
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will hand One Day International debuts to three top-order batsmen when they face Bangladesh in the opening match of a three-game series in Dhaka today, Wednesday, with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi expressing confidence in the newcomers ahead of the contest.
Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat and Shamyl Hussain are set to earn ODI caps 255, 256 and 257 respectively, forming Pakistan’s top three in the series opener at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
“There will be three debutants for us in the first game,” Afridi told reporters ahead of the series. “Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat will open the batting, while Shamyl Hussain will bat at three.”
“I hope they will play their own game and show their skills. We are all excited to see them play for Pakistan not just for one series but future as well.”
Pakistan arrive in Bangladesh after winning their previous two ODI series at home against South Africa and Sri Lanka and held training sessions in Karachi before departing for Dhaka earlier this week.
Afridi said the team expected a competitive contest against Bangladesh, which traditionally performs strongly in home conditions.
“All the teams are very good in their home conditions and similarly Bangladesh have done well in their home ground as well,” he said. “As a team we are prepared well.”
Pakistan have historically dominated the bilateral ODI rivalry, winning 34 of the 39 matches played between the two sides, with one game ending without a result.
The three-match series marks the latest white-ball engagement between the teams after they faced each other in multiple T20I contests since May last year.
The match will begin at 1:15 p.m. Pakistan time and will be broadcast live on PTV Sports.
The two teams will play the other two ODIs on March 13 and March 15 at the same venue.
