It seems experts weren’t wrong when they showed concerns over the cybercrime bill and its potential to be used as a political weapon against opposition parties and freedom of speech. Only a few weeks after Information Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, warned of action against anyone who speaks against the Prime Minster’s family, a member of the PTI social media team has been arrested.
The cybercrime bill was meant to guarantee public safety and proper use of the web, however, the gravest of concerns seem to be coming to fruition as the government continues to use the bill for its political gain and as a private tool to prevent defamation.
According to PTI’s Central Core Committee member, Qasim Khan Suri, Salar Kakar Sultanzai, former information secretary of PTI Balochistan, has been taken into custody.
He tweeted “Was with Salar Khan in FIA office…He’s being taken to Islamabad. Proud of our boy!”
Was with Salar in FIA office & witnessed all the procedure of him being taken in custody. He's being taken to islamabad. Proud of our boy! pic.twitter.com/BsTxglDarC
— Qasim Khan Suri (@QasimKhanSuri) May 17, 2017
Read More: Cyber Crime Law or Freedom to Block Internet Content?
Qasim Khan also shared a notice served to Salar by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), asking him to appear before the FIA’s counter terrorism wing by today.
The notice FIA gave us after taking Salar in custody. About time pti took a strong stance for its supporters. I m with Salar.#weAreAllSalar pic.twitter.com/hXbICYBRuc
— Qasim Khan Suri (@QasimKhanSuri) May 17, 2017
The incident was confirmed by Salar through his Twitter account. He was upset over FIA’s order to submit his laptop and mobile phone.
Told to submit mobile & laptop to FIA! ofcourse sir, we dont ev a private life; u r welcome to tour my family pics & discussions! The Heck!
— Salar Sultanzai (@MeFixer) May 16, 2017
On our way to submit mobile and laptop. Will not be available on whatsapp etc.
— Salar Sultanzai (@MeFixer) May 17, 2017
This does not seem to be the only such incident. PTI Chairman, Imran Khan, suggests that its social media activists are being targeted by the government and have been threatened or arrested.
Govt abusing Cyber Crime Law to politically victimise PTI social media activists by threatening/arresting them. Unacceptable in a democracy
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 17, 2017
Read More: Govt Starts Ad Campaign Against Defamation & Anti-Islam Remarks on Social Media
While the use of such measures is acceptable in the case of actual cybercrimes or online propaganda against critical government institutions like the army, it certainly isn’t democratic to threaten, arrest or victimise opposition for political gain. If anyone is indeed suspected of such deeds, the FIA should take action against them immediately.
In this case, if Salar was actually a culprit or there was any evidence against him, the FIA would have immediately confiscated his laptop and mobile phone. A real culprit obviously won’t leave any evidence against his activities on his laptop or mobile phone if given any amount of time.
Cybercrime law is definitely a need of the time but the way it is implemented and perceived by officials can either mean it ends up guaranteeing our digital rights or become a tool for authoritarianism and censorship.
The laws in this country are not for the people. They never are. They are for the ‘powerful’ people, who use the law as their personal vendetta machine. And i am not saying regarding this specific case only.
SSssshhhhhh…….. you might be victim of this law
I laughed at what writer has mentioned —- “A real culprit obviously won’t leave any evidence against his activities on his laptop or mobile phone if given any amount of time.”
One without any bias should read comments, abuse, threats of PTI, PMLN supporters on social media. Both sides have crossed all limits and have divided Pakistan so much that both sides are naming each other with animal names. But at the end Pakistani nation is showing its true colors, not patwaris or youthyas.
Political intolerance is no more, PPP and PMLN learned a lot with time while PTI is in the process. We are not looking at facts, we are not trying to know facts but we see who is saying this.
We are giving all silly arguments to justify the side one is politically in favor of, people are lying to any possible extent, they are literally making stories, be it a 16 years old boy or 60 years old man..to win the debate, to satisfy our own selves that we are on the right side.
“Behind every fortune, there’s a crime”.
I cant decide whats more awkward, the news itself or the attitude of youthias “Proud of our boy”. I mean the guy is being charged under a law and he is being glorified for this – Pathetic.
He is being politically charged not for criminal activity that’s why he is not ashamed. This government can’t take rightful criticism.
Isn’t this how all political parties used to ‘take a stand’? Remember what happened after Model Town incident? Gullu Butt openly smashing cars? You can carry on with the long list of such incidents, but the fact remains that all political parties are guilty of glorifying such pathatic stuff. Ironically enough, they do get the end result beneficial for them … kinda.
Bahut Acha howa. chun chun ke pakro in …………………….ha ha ha :)
GodFather is showing his true colors!
Bohat ziada jale huwe ho Patwari
excellent step, appreciated.
Is it a news for such a blog? Seriously ProPakistani what are you doing. Please don’t involve in Politics. You have a reputation. You are going to become ProPTI instead of ProPakistani.
sir cyber crime tu niche hay na humari k nahi?
fiker naut, your are the NEXT…………………ha ha ha
Dear Aamir
Propakistani is the only blog in pakistan which has been able to establish itself as an international standard, well edited, focused blog.
Unfortunately lately, your personal biases are now risking this effort. My advice is to sit back and evaluate the cost vs benefit of this, before it becomes another of PTI’s social media dump.
Appreciate your feedback. But for records, I (personally at least) don’t support PTI. We have carried stories against PTI (here’s one such story: https://propakistani.pk/2011/12/20/pti-is-spam-calling-in-karachi-to-market-its-jalsa/) and are open to any further stories that may come our way in future.
So we take things on merit, and without any political bias at the least. You can trust me on this.
Aamir bhai, aap sy to FIA HQ be itna dour nahe ha ;)
But ye to aap ko bhe pata ha kuch nahe hona.. warna ARY band hota, aur 2-3 nahe 2-3000 band hotay andar.
Is bandy ny kisi aur ki duum py pao rakha ha :p
then why are you writing in support of censorship by saying that we can’t criticize the army? what is this backward attitude?
Biased post….
Change ur name to propti
if its a Pro Pti post The Noonies need to give evidence how many N league Political activists are captured after implementation of cyber LAW.. Daramye karna band karoo its not PTI vs N league its about misuse of LAW for own benefits which can be used by any party in Power so bill need to be recheck .. Har Criticism ko “Ghadaari” Say link karna tabahi ki tarf lay kay jaye ga koom ko..
How many PTI activists are arrested? Any numbers?
Stop spamming every comment you Patwari
Update He is back now :) chalo or koi post per larai karye :P
Waise Wo 13 Sala Pakistani Larka : Jo Microsoft & Google Ko Hack Kiya tha ? Inaam Bhi Mila ?
Kiya Ye Cyber Crime Nahi ????
Apart from all the hue and cry due to the arrested person being a youthia, this person is charged under a law and is being required to clarify his position. Maybe he is guilty of something or maybe not, let the legal proceeding decide that. To raise such an alarm in advance doesn’t make any sense.
Well … Amir Aata proves it time and time again… In blog post, they never wrote “why” they taken in to custody… There just be a reason, a good reason… PTI social media team, don’t know ethics… They freely talk on women and abuse them. They have proved past!!! Aata baby is weeping, which is good to see… ;)
But mr Aata, you do whatever, turn your blog political, or do what else, remember that Imran khan will throw you in dustbin very shortly… It’s his nature!!!
Propakistani RIP.
Looooooool!
Aamir is NOT working for/with PTI or IK.
Ghulami se nikal aao bhai ab tou.
Let’s report the blog to FIA. This is spreading hate Instead of “IT” news.. :)
Activists needs to learn the rights of others before claiming their own…example is there for recent tweet story against fatmi…lol
>While the use of such measures is acceptable in the case of online propaganda against critical government
institutions like the army,
No it isn’t. The army is not some sacred cow that you can’t criticize. It is precisely because of attitudes like these that our rulers can pass such laws and our country remains a backward basket case.
Aadil Shadman the pro poti ki misaal us langoor ki si hey jis k haath main keley ki bajaey qalm pakra diya gya ho.