IHC Orders to Block Facebook If Blasphemous Content Isn’t Removed

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Shaukat Siddiqui clearly directed the authorities on Wednesday to suspend Facebook in the country if it does not block blasphemous material.

The decision about the suspension of social media will be taken in next hearing.

The IHC bench comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui was hearing the case regarding blasphemous material on the social media. The single-judge bench was informed about the progress made by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The DG FIA said they have completed the investigations and a case has been registered couple of days ago. We have arrested a man allegedly involved in sharing such content and names of several others have been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), he added.

Justice Shaukat asked the Interior Secretary, as to why the government is not seeking FIA’s help to remove blasphemous content. To this, he said, we are coordinating with the FIA and all possible steps are being taken to address the problem.

Advocate General Islamabad said the social media company takes two to three weeks in sharing required information.

The judge remarked that this issue is very sensitive. Block Facebook till the issue is resolved and inform the company about it, he said.

“We do not need social media if it cannot stop blasphemy”.

During hearing, the FIA director had told the court that some 70 persons were identified who were running controversial pages on social media but many of them were living abroad.

He said that a focal person was deputed in Washington to tackle the issue whereas consultation is on for a case in world court. He said FIA was also in contact with the top officials of Facebook as well as cyber crime wing of Interpol as the contentious material was being uploaded through Facebook. “Now the agency is waiting for reply from them,” he said.

Justice Shaukat said all the departments including Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) are hurling responsibility of the case at each other.

He further instructed interior ministry, information ministry and PTA to submit report till March 27 and said that the decision about the suspension of social media will be taken in next hearing.


  • This judge is absolutely right. Who needs Facebook when there’s plenty of electricity, water, gas as well as a host of friendly neighbors who would give a limb to help. Better yet, why stop there? Let’s ban Twitter, Netflix, all Indian media. Simply dumbfounded at just how misplaced your priorities are.

    • Our Emaan is more important than biased rascicst facebook who hates muslims we have seen this on many occasions.

      • emaan? police thana jao aur emaan dhek lo, court jao aur emaan dhek lo, parliment jao aur emaan dhek lo

        • Achai aur burai har jagah hoti hai, kuch ghalat insaano ko dekh k imaan ka word use karna theek nhn

      • Emaan sirf Facebook me hi yaad ata hai? “Internet momin” bannay ka subko shoq hai yahan par.

        • I think you don’t know the actual issue. Its better to ban the facebook than spreading the material against Islam. i think its the extreme point for a Muslim to react against these type “wahiyaat”. please don’t react like “mombatti mafia”.

  • Iss Judge ko wo nazar nahi atay jo Dehshatgardi kar rahay hain, issay wo nazar nahi atay jin k naam panama mein thay… yeh corrupt judge hai, apni corruption bachanay k liye Aashiq-e-asool bana phirta hai

  • I request to the moderator, please block the comment session for this article.
    Har koi liberal banne ki koshish mein ootpataang bolta rahe ga

    • I request the moderator to remove this conservative comment. All conservatives think that it’s their birthright to take away freedom of speech from people who are merely expressing their OWN PERSONAL VIEWS.

      Is tareeqay se to dunya ke saray christians, jews and atheists ko agar apka bas chalay to aap goonga kar dain ke woh ootpataang (apke mutaabit) na bol sakain. That way everyone disagrees with someone or the other, over petty issues, and BIG issues. Christians vs. Jews vs. Muslims vs. Hindus. THE FIRST THING ISLAM TEACHES IS TOLERANCE (As per the Quran)

      God forbid, if every single person starts shutting up others like you, as Christians consider Jews to be ootpataang, and so with Hindus, Muslims, etc, everyone in this world WOULD BE without tongues..

      Apko dimaghi ailaaj ki zaroorat hai, kindly kisi achay doctor se raabta karain, aur tab tak fazool ki ootpatang pabandiyaan auron pe thopna band karain. Shukriya.

    • Secondly,

      Just a reference to my last comment. ISLAM teaches TOLERANCE (PEACE), FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION. References to the Holy Quran given below.

      P.S. I’m a HUMAN. Not a liberal or a conservative.

      1) Peace is the cornerstone

      The word “Islam” is derived from the word meaning “peace” in Arabic. Islam is a religion revealed to mankind with the intention of presenting a peaceful life where the infinite compassion and mercy of God manifests on earth. God calls all people to live by the moral values He sets so that compassion, mercy, peace and love can be experienced all over the world.

      “O You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace (Islam). Do not follow in the footsteps of satan. He is an outright enemy to you.” (Holy Quran -2:208)

      In the verse above, Islam intrinsically calls for peace and fosters a life in absolute sincerity and honesty before God. Therefore it is vitally important for an individual to believe in God with his own will and aspiration, and observe God’s commands and advice through personal conscientious contentment.

      2) No one should be forced to believe in Islam

      “There is no compulsion where the religion is concerned.” (Holy Quran -2:256)

      As stated in the verse, no one can be compelled to live by Islamic morals. Conveying the existence of God and the morals of the Qur’an to other people is a duty for believers, but they call people to the path of God with kindness and love and they never force them. It is only God Who guides people to the right way. This is related in the following verse:

      “You cannot guide those you would like to but God guides those He wills. He has best knowledge of the guided.” (Holy Quran -28:56)

      3) Freedom of thought and religion are paramount.

      The Quran provides an environment where people can fully enjoy freedom of thought and freedom of religion and allows people to live by the faith and values they believe in. According to Islam, everyone has the right to live freely by his beliefs, whatever they may be. Anyone who wants to support a church, a synagogue or a mosque must be free to do so. In this sense, freedom of religion, or freedom of belief, is one of the basic tenets of Islam. There is always freedom of religion wherever the moral values of the Qur’an prevail.

      That is why Muslims also treat Jews and Christians, described in the Qur’an as “the People of the Book,” with great justice, love and compassion. God says in the Qur’an:

      “God does not forbid you from being good to those who have not fought you in the religion or driven you from your homes, or from being just towards them. God loves those who are just.” (Holy Quran -60:8)

      • Bhai mera iraada ap ki sulgaane ka nhn tha, kaho to thora odipalon laga dun Shah ji ?
        Aur freedom of speech ka matlab ye to nhn hota k koi ap ki Maa behan ki maa behan kar de, har cheez limit mein achi lagti hai

  • Great decision. Ban Facebook or entire social media if necessary to keep those companies at bay who are not cooperating in destroying this negative propaganda and social media terrorism against Islam.
    Pakistan is and always will, remain Islamic Republic. Mombatti Mafia can’t change Pakistan’s ideology.

  • Hey you liberals just stop talking about this where were you when facebook was banning pages that supported KASHMIR movement and when these pages were exposins Indian brutalities. Faceboot just banned them . WHY>? Do you have any answer.?n HUH?

    • iska kisi k pass koi jawab nahein hoga bhai …na koi deny wala hy , so called liberals mein sy , bcz unko ye baat nazar nahein aye gee …

  • Banning facebook will be a very good decision. All the people instead spend time in gym, running, other sports etc.

  • IHC judge is completely ineligible because he is a religious bigot, an absolute right-terrorist mindset that has barbarian strategy with a horse vision. If a pedestrian is killed by a car, its not a Car manufacturer’s responsibility. If these ‘so-called judges’ want to remove content, they should make laws to bring those major portals to open their offices in Pakistan, order government to create a framework to establish mechanism to monitor and report any content that does not comply with country (not individual) policies. Also that lunatic judge should address those tens of thousands of pending cases in IHC which involved (but not limited to) murders, extortion, public money, etc. Moreover his apologists who read my comment, should also considers that he illegally grabbed a bungalow in Islamabad and refused to withdraw his possession…. What about it?

  • I request very humbly to all those hypocrites Pakistanis who are in favor of Facebook ban; should delete their IDs (and their fake female IDs, secret IDs for porn) and disconnect from internet, this will help them focus on real Pakistani issues…

  • Here comes need of our own social media ” Apni duniya aap peda kar ager zindo me ha~” which has respect for feelings of all. Look guys why u try to debate with us we are of view that no one should be made hurt by blasphemy of his Prophet whether he is Jew or Muslim. It is against manners and ethics and if FB policy do not take care of manners, it should face very strict action.


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