Online newspaper Haalhawal blocked
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 6 May 2018
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Haalhawal.com, an Urdu news outlet, has been blocked in Pakistan without prior notice. The publisher seeks clarification from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.Summary
ISLAMABAD – Haalhawal.com, an online Urdu newspaper launched in Quetta in 2016, has abruptly become inaccessible.
Publisher and editor Shabbir Rakhshani told JournalismPakistan.com that the website was blocked, reportedly by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority three days ago.
Users trying to access the website get to see the following message: “This website is not accessible. The site you are trying to access contains content that is prohibited for viewership from within Pakistan.”
Rakhshani expressed surprise at this sudden blockage and said there was no objectionable content on his site.
He has written to the PTA in a bid to find out the reasons for the closure. A response from the authority is awaited, he said.
KEY POINTS:
- Haalhawal.com was launched in Quetta in 2016.
- The website was blocked by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
- Users receive a message indicating the site contains prohibited content.
- Publisher Shabbir Rakhshani was surprised by the sudden action.
- He has contacted PTA for reasons regarding the blockage.
