IMDB.com, the largest database of information on movies, TV and celebrities, is mysteriously blocked in Pakistan.
While we can confirm that website is not accessible throughout Pakistan, the reason behind the blockade is not known yet.
We have asked the concerned authorities to share with us the details of the ban on IMDB.com.
Apparently, as decided by courts earlier, if there was any objectionable material (read blasphemous) available on the website then only objectionable pages(S) was/were supposed to get blocked, not the entire website.
Inter-ministerial committee, that is the sole body responsible for taking decisions on blocking any website in Pakistan, should have considered better alternatives, such as blocking only objectionable pages – if there are any – as banning the entire website will only earn bad press for Pakistan and nothing else.
The time has come when there needs to be a regulation for censoring the internet. This Inter-ministerial committee should make public all the blocked websites and must explain the reasons for any bans to avoid misinformation and bad name of course.
We will update this post when we will have any further information (from authorities) available with us.
Update:
Apparently, there was a mistake on part of the committee that decided the ban. A tweet from Mr. Basit Alvi of Brain Telecommunication, reveals that access to IMDB has been restored now.
While we are not fully clear about the whole development, it can be safely said that decision was made in a hurry and was hurriedly reversed.
Mr. Basit mention that restoration of IMDB made possible by a Director General at PTA. Here’s the tweet:
#imdb restored in #pakistan … Special thanx to #pta and to director general who requested not to disclose his name.
— Basit Alvi باسط علوی (@bpk69) November 22, 2013
Thanks to Shahid Saleem for updating us about Mr. Basit’s tweet.
Can someone please block Internet in Pakistan? There is so much blasphemous content on here,
I wish this could happen……….. :)
Haey Haey Asay to na kro bhaiiyyooooo !!!
bhai yai Hafta Itwar ab band kro.. because itwar is closed holiday… lol
someone should do it. Lets move to Mars or Jupiter or something.
Sarcasum ?? :P
might as well.
Pakistan is a blasphemy in itself.
Burn these heretics.
/s
I am curious, plz explain your comment/opinion with your highly Intelligent brain.
sarcastic or non sarcastic side of it, im listening
Baat soch samhaj kar kiya karo…agar hamari Ministry ne tumhari post parh li to wo seriously bhi le saktay hain :-S
I warned you.
I wonder what will you do when someone decides to block disqus for blasphemous comments, as can be seen on some Right Wing/Religious websites in the West. Will you enjoy going back to manually moderating all comments?
They will use the excuse of “blasphemous & objectionable” content to block anything & everything that doesn’t suit them.
I say lets stop using all of our internet connections for a few days, stop paying the bills. Then see how they will come crawling and begging to come back to them. Tareeqa tou sahi istimaal karo apni baat manwanay ka. Chawaliyaan marney mein hamara koi saani nahi :/
This could be a temporary blockage as seen few week ago in case of torrents and some other websites but its time to remind PTA and sole bodies to introduce content filtering system.
It IS their content filtering system at work. It’s working perfectly: they block content AND NEVER TELL YOU WHY.
Content filtering system should block specific content not whole website. Its just their ordinary way of blocking websites nothing else.
In fact their system is so perfect that they wanted to block one page and the entire website is blocked.
perfection and performance that outshines! :p
stopped reading the article as i reached on word “blasphemous”
install word web on your pc :)
I’d love to see how all the censorship apologists justify this ban!
I think its because of upcoming movie on Hazrat Noah (A.S) they should block that specific page
We don’t live in the middle ages anymore people. Besides the movie respects Hazrat Noah (A.S.). There are already many such movies, would you get them banned too? Grow up people grow up, please this is the 21st century.
I don’t believe that theory.
#1:
Google for “Noah”. Even before you click on any link, you will see a huge section on the right side of the page describing the movie, actors, related movies. So what is the purpose of the block?
#2:
Even if the imdb link is blocked, one or two links down from the imdb page is the Wikipedia page **for the movie**. That is not blocked.
#3: The movie comes out in March. What possible reason is there to block the site in NOVEMBER??? And if the movie is the reason for the block, then how will they block the hundreds or thousands of sites that will be discussing the movie before and after it is released?
#4: Lastly, they never blocked any internet site for movies like this for any other Prophet. And yet I have never heard anyone call Noah (PBUH) So important to do anything like this.
Have they never heard of the “Streisand Effect”? By trying to ban it, they have only made it more interesting to people.
I agree!
They are systematically eradicating any and all venues for online representation of Pakistan by Pakistanis. The only country in the world that completely blocked YouTube is Pakistan. This idiocacy started from Redman Malik the jackal and is continued by Anushae Rehman the buffoon. When exactly are we going to wake up and fight for our freedom and liberties?
It does make you wonder. If they can get away with blocking innocuous sites like imdb, then they can block anything.
Please recheck again, after reading this news i have logged on to http://www.imdb.com/, its working perfectly fine.
Convener ISPAK has just confirmed that ISPs were issued a directive by #PTA on November 19 for the blocking of #IMDB #Pakistan #Internet
It is not accessible here, on ptcl landline, islamabad
It is not accessible here, ptcl landline, islamabad
Imdb app is working on cellphone but website is not opening in browser
The excessive increase of anything causes a reaction in the opposite direction.
I think the reason is Pakistani Movie “Waar” thats was getting higher rating on IMDB than anyother bollywood or hollywood movie.
Sometimes you people come up with the strangest cinspiracy theories.
People make conspiracies as much as the farts they produce in a day :p
Good step taken from PTA and thanks for blocking youtube also.
Quite a disappointment seeing IMDb is blocked.
P.S: Its “IMDb” , not “IMDB”
Oh.. We Got A Smartass Here..
LOL fake Stone alert :p did PP put this up? I really should sign up……
Its blocked in ptcl only imdb works perfect in other isps.
Culturally and intellectually decaying nation its is no wonder.
i am sure the BIBI handling ministry of IT don’t even know what for imdb.com used for..GOD BLESS PAKISTAN!!
There is no need of Martial Law in Pakistan. Every government sector do what they want to do without explaining the reasons. Pathetic!
NEWS UPDATE tweet from Basit Alvi (of Brain Internet):
#imdb restored in #pakistan … Special thanx to #pta and to director general who requested not to disclose his name.
tweet from bolobhi:
Convener ISPAK says “#PTA has sent order to restore #IMDB immediately. They acted rightly & promptly on our complaint” #Pakistan
I am SO UPSET about this. OK, so the PTA has ordered it to be unblocked now (not opening for me on PTCL DSL but maybe that will fix itself in a few hours).
BUT
WHY
WAS
IT
BLOCKED
IN
THE
FIRST
PLACE???
Is suddenly all the “anti-state” “anti-Islam” “anti-religion” stuffs deleted from the site? Magically?
WHO was responsible for this block?
WHO has the POWER to block any site and issue an OFFICIAL notification from PTA to block sites like this? Only to have blocks removed by some “unnamed director general of PTA”? In fact, how many “director generals” are there in PTA/MoIT???
These people are OUT OF CONTROL.
IMDb is owned 100% by Amazon. Any infos that are against Islam on IMDb are **SOLD** by Amazon. Amazon was not blocked.
SO WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
I’m just curious as to how do they come up with the bans. Is there a meeting and sites are brought up in the discussion or is it just on a whim?
STFU.. Stop Typing In Capital Letters!!
Douche..
No, its still blocked with me, I am on EVO Wingle..
Imdb is still banned on my internet :/
Still not working on my ptcl DSL
can someone block moulvis in Pakistan?
I do not think moulvis were behind this. There are many MANY people who do not know Islam properly and are ordinary people. Some apparently work for the government at high positions in MoIT.
these idiots should stop goofing around and go home
Can someone tell you that you will die some day and moulvi nay tumhara janaza bi parhana hoo ga…Moulvis ko block kar diyea tou kya justin bieber ka gana souna kay tumhain qabar mein outarain gaey :P
Can anyone else practice Islam for you?
Simple question. Can anyone else practice Islam for you? Is it your job or someone else’s?
Then why you think we need a maulvi to lead Janazah prayers? ANY MALE MUSLIM CAN LEAD SUCH PRAYERS.
Can someone block Pakistan from pakistan?
+1
[Youtube Blocked], [imdb Blocked]. .
next is very much likely to block [Wikipedia] and all known informative webs.
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
On some ISPs, if the Wikipedia URL has the name Muhammad in it, it won’t work. I have personally seen this on Worldcall in Lahore months ago (I stopped using them so I don’t know if they still do it).
Amazing, I cannot even see Jinnah’s page because of that block.
Shocked to see that (Page with Muhammad name not opening) happening with my ISP too. Its a local cable net from Transworld Associates!
Fasten your seat belts guys…we are ready to travel back in time…hilarious actions taken….
Near future we will have 100 MB speed with all the sites blocked due to one or another reason religious, cultural, social, political , racist, reasons
Its still blocked………
Block Pakistan from the rest of the world, and start living in the stone age.
they are bunch of bitches. It is still not accessible
they are bunch of bitches. It is still not accessible
actually these people are making their day WORK FULL… lol.
first do some thing and report it as a work..
then they realize that it is WRONG.. they UNDO it and report is a work again..
and they are paid for this WORKING…
@AamirAttaa
Where Is My Credit??
I Told You This In The First Place!!
Where is my credit??
I told you that your pamper is Wet…peepoo baby :D
Where Is My Credit??
I Made You.. With The Help Of My PeePipe.. :D :B :P
Thanks Dad :)
I LOVE You!!
But I Love Your Mom :)
Its Ok Dad :)
wrong update ,its working in pakistan
WAKE UP, JANAB. You slept through the entire event.
It was blocked starting on the 19th and opened today. No reason whatsoever was given for the block.
Else you have some other explanation for what Basit Alvi owner of Brain ISP tweeted that it was being opened?
sick of poor system
Aahista aahista internet ki bhi loadshedding kardo! ek din kholo, phir do din band!
now adf.ly is not working on ptcl dsl .. lolz
Stupid Decision
every non apple weirdo knows how to use tor
IMDB.com is working fine