The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has condemned the government’s move to use state power to prosecute certain kind of messaging through cellular phone networks and content on the websites.
The HRCP calls upon the government to withdraw such measures and desist from introducing any law to the effect.
‘In recent days, the federal government representatives have expressed the intention to introduce a law to prosecute people who indulge in certain kind of messaging (SMS) through cellular phone networks,' the HRCP said in a statement issued on Friday.
‘The government has announced that the messages containing any content against the state or immoral material would be punishable under the law. The HRCP views the proposed measures with concern and as an intrusion into 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 said this is not the way to persuade people to respect a government which does not earn this status by its deeds. It said 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 as the government here has often been treated as the state.
The HRCP demanded that the government stay away from enforcing any such legislation.
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