ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal cabinet approved an amendment in the Federal Investigation Agency Act, 1974, to empower the agency to take direct action against “fake news” and “social media rumors” targeting state institutions that can lead to seven-year imprisonment, said an official statement on Wednesday.
Earlier this year, the government of former prime minister Imran Khan amended Section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, which increased the jail term from two to five years for anyone defaming a person or institution, including the army and judiciary, on social media platforms.
Civil society groups and journalist bodies challenged the amendment in the Islamabad High Court since they viewed it as a tool to silence critics of the government.
The court subsequently scrapped the controversial law in April while calling it “unconstitutional.”
“The government has decided to give more powers to the FIA to strengthen it as the federal cabinet approved further amendments to the FIA Act through a summary moved via circulation,” said the statement released by the information ministry.
The final approval of the amendment to the FIA Act would come from parliament, the statement added, which would make the agency act against “hateful content” on social media.
“Issues such as hateful content, incitement to rebellion in institutions have come to the fore on social media and there is also a lot of wrong or fake news on social media which can lead to rebellion among officials of state institutions,” the summary approved by the cabinet noted.
It also maintained that false news or information could turn groups and communities against one another.
The amendment, which has included Section 505 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) in the FIA Act, will make it possible for the agency to act against social media posts which was previously done by the police.
“After the approval of the Parliament, the punishment under this law can be imprisonment of up to seven years,” the summary said.
Pakistan’s interior minister Rana Sanaullah said on Wednesday evening the government would consult journalists and other stakeholders on changes to the law.
“If the freedom of expression is curtailed by the bill, the government will withdraw it,” he said in a video statement, adding that there were certain things on social media that needed to be controlled.
“The private life of people is being harmed through social media,” he maintained, adding the bill would come up for discussion in parliament as well.
Usama Khilji, director of a digital rights advocacy firm, Bolo Bhi, said the amendment would have a “chilling effect on society” and scare people from exercising their democratic rights on social media.
“It will also increase harassment of the general public from the FIA based on their social media activities,” he maintained.
Khilji said the government had included Section 505 of the PPC in the FIA Act which dealt with mutiny within the armed forces.
“It is the right of every Pakistani citizen to criticize the political role of armed forces that should not come under scrutiny,” he continued, adding the government should only act if any social media post damaged or compromised the role of the military in defense of the country.
“There should be checks and balances and law enforcement agencies should not have such wide powers,” he said.
Government approves law recommending seven-year term for social media users
https://arab.news/82bz6
Government approves law recommending seven-year term for social media users
- The proposed law will be finalized after parliamentary debate, says the country’s interior minister
- The law will empower FIA to act against social media posts targeting Pakistan’s state institutions
Ex-PM says will approach foreign capitals, rights bodies over crackdown against supporters
- In latest address, Khan says he fears for his life, accuses government of plotting to kill him
- PM Sharif accuses Khan of running ‘disgusting’ smear campaign against the army chief
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan said on Monday his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party would present evidence to international human rights organizations and foreign capitals of alleged rights violations committed by the Pakistani government against his supporters.
Khan’s supporters have had clashes with police a number of times in the last week, including on Saturday when he visited a judicial complex in Islamabad for a court appearance. Before that, supporters pelted police and other law enforcers with stones and bricks when they arrived outside Khan’s Lahore residence with court orders to arrest him in a case involving the sale of state gifts, popularly called the Toshakhana case.
Addressing supporters on Monday via video link, Khan said the government had wanted to isolate him from his supporters at the judicial complex and laid a "trap" to kill him, while police had fired tear gas shells to provoke his followers into a confrontation. He urged Pakistan's top court to take notice of the alleged human rights violations in Pakistan.
"We will approach international human rights organizations today," Khan said. "We will [also] approach foreign capitals through the PTI's chapters in various parts of the world.”
The ex-premier's statement came hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accused Khan of orchestrating a "foreign-funded" campaign against Pakistan's army chief, Syed Asim Munir.
Sharif was responding to criticism leveled at Munir by PTI protesters who had gathered outside the White House in Washington D.C. on Sunday, many of them directly chanting slogans against the Pakistan army and its chief.
Khan accused the Sharif-led government of deliberately trying to pit the PTI against the country's powerful military.
"Let me emphasize, this army is my army and it is also my country," Khan said. "I will live and die in Pakistan."
Khan, widely believed to have been propelled to power in the 2018 general elections with the support of the army, has since said to have fallen out with the military. Kahn denies the polls were rigged in his favour, while the military says it no longer interferes in politics.
Pakistani envoy reminds Muslim community at UN of Ramadan’s message of compassion, tolerance
- Condoles with people who lost their loved ones in climate disasters in Muslim nations
- Pays homage to Kashmiris and Palestinians “living through the yoke of occupation”
ISLAMABAD: In a message on the eve of Ramadan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, reminded the Muslim community at the UN about the holy month’s teachings of compassion, patience and tolerance toward others and steadfastness in the face of hardships and calamities.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
The first fast in Pakistan is likely to be observed on Thursday, March 23, with the Ruet-e-Hilal committee, which sights the new moon and announces the start of Ramadan, scheduled to meet this Wednesday.
“I hope this month enshrines us with the need to always do good to others and ourselves,” Munir was quoted by state-run APP as saying.
“Ramadan is a month of exchanging gestures of compassion and empathy. It is a time for reflection, self-purification and learning. It is also a time to look after those in need and to uplift one another.”
“During this time, I would like to express my condolences to my Muslim brothers and sisters who lost their loved ones, and their homes in climate calamities, in particular during the devastating floods that affected Pakistan, Türkiye, and other parts of the world. The earthquake which affected southern Türkiye and northern Syria also incurred extensive loss of life and damage to properties,” the envoy added.
“I pray that May Almighty save us from the menace of such mega-disasters in the future.”
The ambassador also paid homage to Kashmiris and Palestinians “living through the yoke of the occupation.”
“I would also like to extend my gratitude to our peacekeepers in UN missions abroad who are working diligently in difficult circumstances and I express my tribute to the fallen peacekeepers in the line of duty. May Allah grant their soul peace and give fortitude to their families and loved ones.”
'Separate elections unconstitutional': Govt trying for same-day vote, says Sana
March 20: Express Tribune reported interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has claimed that the upcoming polls in two provinces – Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – would be unconstitutional as they would lead to the next general elections not being held under caretaker setups in these provinces. Read More I
Sharif blames ex-PM Khan for ‘intolerable’ smear campaign against Pakistan’s army chief
- PM Sharif urges “patriotic overseas Pakistanis” to raise their voices against “foreign-funded” campaign
- PTI supporters, in demonstration outside White House on Monday, urged military to accept civilian supremacy
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday criticized his predecessor Imran Khan for orchestrating a “foreign-funded” campaign against Pakistan’s army chief, Syed Asim Munir, saying that it is being launched against him by using overseas Pakistanis.
The prime minister’s statement comes a day after hundreds of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters gathered outside the White House in Washington D.C. to protest against what they said were “atrocities” being committed against Khan. In the protest, a PTI leader demanded that Pakistan’s powerful military establishment must realize the “mistake” it is making while another supporter said the military should accept civilian supremacy in the country.
The protest took place a couple of days after clashes between Khan supporters and Punjab police personnel who attempted to arrest the former prime minister outside his Zaman Khan residence in Lahore on court orders.
Munir was appointed army chief by PM Sharif in November last year. The army chief’s appointment became a subject of controversy after Khan — who challenges the legitimacy of the Sharif government — insisted Pakistan’s ruling coalition government should not appoint the new army chief. Rather, he insisted elections be held and a new prime minister should appoint the army chief.
“Campaign against the army chief is intolerable and a continuation of the conspiracy against institutions,” Sharif said in a statement. “Patriotic overseas Pakistan should raise their voices against this foreign-funded campaign,” he said, adding that overseas Pakistanis are being used to spread “toxic politics.”
Sharif appealed to overseas Pakistanis not to fall prey to the alleged conspiracy, adding that Khan was violating the constitution by dragging the heads of institutions in his “dirty politics.”
“The interior minister should deal with iron hands against those who are running dirty campaigns against institutions within the country,” Sharif said. “Strict legal action should be taken against those who instigate chaos, riots, and rebellion in Pakistan.”
The prime minister said a campaign against an army chief, who had been appointed on merit for the first time in Pakistan’s history, could only be the agenda of enemies of the state. “The nation stands with its institutions and is united against miscreants,” he added.
In separate tweets later, PM Sharif accused Khan of orchestrating a “disgusting smear campaign” against Pakistan’s army chief.
“PTI’s disgusting smear campaign against Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir at the behest of Imran Niazi is deserving of the strongest condemnation,” Sharif wrote on Twitter.
In another Twitter post, the premier said Khan is “stooping to unprecedented lows” for power and is undermining Pakistan’s armed forces.
The PTI chairman, who has severely criticized Bajwa and accused him of having a hand in his removal from office in April 2022, has largely refrained from criticizing Munir directly. However, in an interview earlier this month, Khan said he expected Munir’s appointment would “change” his and his party’s fortunes but added that “hardships have increased.”
Pakistan’s military has historically held massive sway in the governance and foreign policy matters of the nuclear-armed South Asian nation. Over the past couple of years, the army, which has ruled Pakistan for nearly half of its 75-year history, has come under intense criticism, arguably unprecedented for the all-powerful institution, particularly for its role in politics.
In his farewell speech, Bajwa said the military had decided in February 2021 to quit any role in Pakistani politics. In a veiled warning to Khan, he also said the military’s patience has limits.
Almost half of Pakistan does not know how to ride a bicycle — Gallup survey
- Gallup Pakistan surveys 764 men and women across all four provinces
- Answers were collected via telephonic surveys, says Gallup Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: The findings of a survey conducted by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan earlier this month said 45 percent of Pakistanis don’t know how to ride a bicycle.
The government in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi organized the “longest cycling race” on March 5. Almost 95 participants took part in the 35-km long race which started from the Quaid’s mausoleum in Karachi and ended at the Governor House. Though Pakistan has not won any significant world titles in cycling, the country hosts several cycling competitions in major cities across the year.
According to Gallup Pakistan, the survey was conducted on March 16 from a “nationally representative sample of adult men and women” across the country’s four provinces. Respondents were asked the question, “Please tell if you know how to ride a bicycle?”
Fifty-five percent of the respondents said yes while almost half, 45 percent, said no.
The survey was carried out among a sample of 764 men and women in urban and rural areas in the four provinces. The methodology used for data collection was telephonic surveys (CATI), Gallup Pakistan said.
