Freedom of speech campaigners have reacted furiously to plans to ban instant messaging and internet telephone services in Pakistan’s biggest city, as officials say it is the only way to curb terrorist attacks.
The row provoked an extraordinary intervention from Benazir Bhutto’s son, who dismissed critics as “burgers” – using a derogatory expression for affluent youngsters with little grasp of the hardships faced by ordinary Pakistanis.
The proposals would see users blocked from using Skype and Viber, and the provincial government of Sindh, which includes Karachi and its 20m population, says the move may be extended to WhatsApp and Tango.
Youtube has already been banned across the country for more than a year in protest at blasphemous content. Cell phone services are frequently disabled during religious festivals to prevent terrorists using mobile networks to detonate bombs.
This week, the government of Sindh announced plans to block messaging services for three months. Full story...
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The row provoked an extraordinary intervention from Benazir Bhutto’s son, who dismissed critics as “burgers” – using a derogatory expression for affluent youngsters with little grasp of the hardships faced by ordinary Pakistanis.
The proposals would see users blocked from using Skype and Viber, and the provincial government of Sindh, which includes Karachi and its 20m population, says the move may be extended to WhatsApp and Tango.
Youtube has already been banned across the country for more than a year in protest at blasphemous content. Cell phone services are frequently disabled during religious festivals to prevent terrorists using mobile networks to detonate bombs.
This week, the government of Sindh announced plans to block messaging services for three months. Full story...
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