Journalism Pakistan
Journalism Pakistan
Freedom of expression shrinks in Pakistan as PECA Amendments take toll: report اظہارِ رائے کی آزادی محدود، پیکا میں ترامیم سے میڈیا کو شدید دھچکا: رپورٹDawn urges Indian media to abandon war rhetoric ڈان کی بھارتی میڈیا سے جنگی بیانیہ ترک کرنے کی اپیلIndia bans 16 Pakistani YouTube channels following Pahalgan attack پہلگام حملے کے بعد بھارت نے پاکستان کے 16 یوٹیوب چینلز پر پابندی لگا دی'In A Different Realm' offers a philosophical take on cricket's greatest innings ان اے ڈیفرنٹ ریلم کرکٹ کی عظیم ترین اننگز پر ایک فکری نقطۂ نظر پیش کرتی ہےCoordinated or coincidence? Identical tweets by Pakistani journalists raise eyebrows ہم آہنگی یا محض اتفاق؟ پاکستانی صحافیوں کے ایک جیسے ٹویٹس نے سوالات اٹھا دیےThe PSL paradox: pageantry or progress? پی ایس ایل کا تضاد: دکھاوا یا ترقی؟Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists after PTI expulsion پی ٹی آئی سے نکالے جانے کے بعد شیر افضل مروت کے صحافیوں پر ذاتی حملےJournalist Sanaullah Khan alleges FIA blocking accounts of YouTubers and families صحافی ثناء اللہ خان کا انکشاف: ایف آئی اے یوٹیوبرز اور ان کے خاندانوں کے اکاؤنٹس بلاک کر رہی ہےA launch in style: Dr. Nauman Niaz unveils 'In A Different Realm' ان اے ڈفرنٹ ریلم کی رونمائی: ڈاکٹر نعمان نیاز کی کتاب Sindhi journalist AD Shar brutally murdered, PFUJ declares three-day mourning سندھی صحافی اے ڈی شر کا بہیمانہ قتل، پی ایف یو جے نے تین روزہ سوگ کا اعلان کر دیاAJK government registers case against newspaper and staff آزاد کشمیر حکومت کا اخبار اور عملے کے خلاف مقدمہJournalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges FIA threats, possible arrest over reporting صحافی آرزو کاظمی کا دعویٰ: ایف آئی اے کی دھمکیاں، رپورٹنگ پر ممکنہ گرفتاری

Dawn calls out government for hypocrisy in VPN and social media ban

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published November 17, 2024 at 01:44 pm |  JP Staff Report

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Dawn calls out government for hypocrisy in VPN and social media ban

ISLAMABAD—In a bold editorial published on Sunday, Daily Dawn criticized the Council of Islamic Ideology's (CII) recent declaration that using VPNs to access blocked websites is "un-Islamic." The editorial, titled 'Un-Islamic' VPNs, argues that it is regrettable to see religion being used to justify a ban that government officials themselves do not seem to fully support or enforce.

Dawn highlighted the contradiction by noting that just an hour after the CII's statement, Pakistan's prime minister posted a congratulatory message on the social media platform X, celebrating the Sri Lankan president's recent election victory. Since X has been officially blocked for Pakistani citizens since February, the prime minister could only have accessed it through a VPN. Dawn pointed out that several other government officials have continued using X, showing open disregard for the platform's ban and casting doubt on the state's stated concerns about VPN misuse.

The editorial also criticized the CII for its selective silence on other pressing issues facing Pakistan, particularly enforced disappearances. Dawn questioned the CII's lack of response on whether these practices align with Islamic values or if collective punishment is religiously acceptable. It argued that CII's focus on VPNs and social media restrictions appears misplaced when Pakistan faces far more urgent crises, suggesting that efforts to combat pornography and inappropriate content online should be tackled with more effective, nuanced measures.

The editorial ended with a warning that heavy-handed bans on digital tools, such as VPNs, could stifle Pakistan's growing digital economy and discourage foreign investment, ultimately doing more harm than good to the nation's economic and social landscape.

 

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