Authors of
messages through mobile phones or Internet against the state will be condemned
to imprisonment up to 14 years, according to a law that may soon be effective
in Pakistan. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), a FORUM-ASIA
member, denounced the government for intending to "muzzle the people's
voice by curtailing their freedom of expression." Below is their press release,
issued on 17 July 2009.
Authors of
messages through mobile phones or Internet against the state will be condemned
to imprisonment up to 14 years, according to a law that may soon be effective
in Pakistan. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), a FORUM-ASIA
member, denounced the government for intending to "muzzle the people's
voice by curtailing their freedom of expression." Below is their press release,
issued on 17 July 2009.
The
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemns the government's
move to use state power to prosecute and punish certain kind of messaging
through cellular phone networks and content on the websites and calls upon the
government to withdraw such measures and desist from introducing any law to
this effect.
The HRCP statement said:
In recent days, federal government representatives have expressed the
government's intention to introduce a law to prosecute and punish people who
indulge in certain kind of messaging (SMS) through cellular phone networks.
The government has announced that messages containing any content against the
state or immoral material would be punishable under the law. The Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan views proposed measures with concern and as an intrusion
into the personal liberties of citizens. The government seems to be embarrassed
by criticism of certain government officials and policies and actions in the
messaging of the people on cell phones and blogs on websites and intends to
muzzle the people's voice by curtailing their freedom of expression.
The Commission is of the view that this is not the way to persuade people to
respect a government which does not earn this status by its deeds. The Commission
also believes that the recent modification in the government's stance that the
law would be directed against those who speak against the state and not against
those who only attack the government is meaningless because in Pakistan the
government has often been treated as the state.
The Commission demands of the government to stay away from enforcing any
legislation to this effect which will not only be violation of people's human
rights but hamper the nascent democratic process in the country. The HRCP
is of view that the new means of electronic communication pose a challenge to
all governments and societies and a way will have to be found to deal with the
explosion of communication without encroaching upon personal freedoms.
