By Iram Saleem
As the PTI government has made all preparations to muzzle social media, there are voices that demanding PMLN to first apologise the nation for bringing a draconian law in this respect in 2016 before opposing Imran Khan’s move.
From Dawn Editor Zafar Abbas says “Congrats again to PMLN which weaponised the cyrber crime law to be used against dissidents. If they had any shame they’d apologise publicly.”
Congrats again to PMLN which weaponised the cyrber crime law to be used against dissidents. If they had any shame they'd apologise publicly.
— Abbas Nasir (@abbasnasir59) February 11, 2020
Who so ever comes in the government it goes after its opponents and PTI of course is no exception. Khan government’s on Friday came under fire in the Senate on its new draconian social media law.
Outspoken PPP Senator Rubina Khalid said “We had been assured that the new rules regarding digital media would be brought before the Senate committee but they were not brought before us.”
She said that the ministry had promised that the committee would be made aware of the new rules before they were taken to the federal cabinet but that was not the case. She said that a notice should be taken of the matter and protest should be registered against the rules.
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar opposed what he called the government move to control social media, saying that people are not being allowed to use social media the country
“We do not accept this law of the jungle,” he said, adding that journalists are being “restricted” and some have even been kidnapped or murdered.
It had emerged on Wednesday that the government has approved a controversial new policy for regulating digital media. Under the new rules, social media companies will be required to submit information such as subscriber information, traffic data and content data to a designated investigation agency when sought, failing which they can be fined up to Rs500 million.
As per the rules, the social media platforms will also have to remove any content deemed “unlawful” and pointed out to them through writing or electronically-signed email within 24 hours or in cases of emergency, within six hours.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has also raised its voice against this move. Pak Destiny
