Timelines

Accusations of blasphemy and enquiries, detentions and arrests on the basis of social media posts

Sr. No.Date IncidentEnquiry/FIRPetition 2017 October 2019Lahore: Sajid Ali was awarded five-year rigorous imprisonment for posting blasphemous material on social media. He was charged under Section 11 of PECA and section 298-A PPC for allegedly posting “sacrilegious, blasphemous and derogatory material against Hazrat Umar (R.A)” on Facebook in 2017. The matter was reported to police of [...]

CRACKDOWN ON JOURNALISTS POST-PECA

Month/Year Government Announcements Initiate Crackdown and Regulate Social MediaDisappearances/Summons/Detentions/FIRs/Arrests Based on/Linked to Social Media PostsContent Restriction: Website Blocking, Requests to Companies, Twitter Notices Petitions Challenging PTA and FIA Action, and PECA January 2017Jan 25: Khabaristan Times, a satirical website, blocked. According to Facebook’s Transparency Report for July-Dec 2016, Pakistan made 1,002 requests to Facebook for [...]

Government Announcements to Crackdown and Regulate Social Media

Government Announcements to Crackdown and Regulate Social Media

Summons, Enquiries, FIRs, Detentions and Arrests in Connection with Social Media Posts

The table below is based on information available in news reports, online and legal documents. It records incidents between 2017-2019, where legal action under existing laws has been taken against individuals on the basis of their social media posts, which includes issuance of summons, initiation of enquiries, registration of FIRs, detentions and arrests.

Content Blocking, Restriction and Takedown Requests

Sr NoDateContent Takedown Requests, Restrictions and Removals 8424 October 2020Twitter sent a notice to journalist Gul Bukhari against one of her tweets that shared a statement by South Asians Against Terrorism and for Human Rights (SAATH) Forum condemning storming of Maryam Nawaz’s hotel room, the abduction of IG Police Sindh, and the interference in the [...]

Petitions Against FIA, PTA and PECA

Below is a record of petitions filed against the Federation of Pakistan, Pakistan Telecommunications Authority and the Federal Investigation Agency for exercise of power, abuse of authority, violation of fundamental rights – espeically freedom of expression – and due process of law, in connection with the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. PDF here.

Summons, Enquiries, FIRs, Detentions and Arrests in Connection with Social Media Posts

The table below is based on information available in news reports, online and legal documents. It records incidents between 2017-2019, where legal action under existing laws has been taken against individuals on the basis of their social media posts, which includes issuance of summons, initiation of enquiries, registration of FIRs, detentions and arrests.

Timeline: Tracking Violence Against Women in Pakistan

Cyber Crime Incidents Timeline

Cyber Crime Incidents Timeline

Bolo Bhi’s YouTube Resource Timeline

Bolo Bhi’s YouTube Ban 2012 – 2015 Timeline Bolo Bhi’s Lahore High Court YouTube Case Updates Timeline Bolo Bhi’s Peshawar High Court YouTube Case Timeline Bolo Bhi’s Sindh High Court Website Censorship Timeline

Sindh High Court Website Censorship Timeline

12th March 2014 Petition Filed in the Sindh High Court to Lift Arbitrary Bans on Websites A group of concerned students and citizens filed a petition in the Sindh High Court, demanding the government be ordered to cease its policy of arbitrarily barring websites and restoring access to websites that had been blocked nation-wide. 20th […]

Peshawar High Court YouTube Case Timeline

16th May 2013 YouTube Ban Challenged in the Peshawar High Court A Senior Attorney of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has challenged in Peshawar High Court the ban placed on social media website YouTube, pleading that the site should be unblocked. 10th January 2014 PTA Ordered to Provide Documentation A two-member bench of the Peshawar Higher […]

Survey: The Human Cost Of Communications Blockade

In the last two years the government of Pakistan has suspended cellular services over a dozen times. In 2012, we began recording every instance of cellular service suspension or each time a notification was issued.   The timeline contains dates with links to media reports detailing reasons provided for the blockade. The timeline demonstrates that […]

Tracking Laws: Freedom Of Information Act

1/1/1990 Tabling of Freedom of Information Bill as a Private Bill The dismal state of governance in Pakistan can largely be attributed to the lack of freedom of information, which retards the capacity of the citizens to effectively monitor 1/1/1994 Second Tabling of Freedom of Information Bill The second bill on the subject was moved […]

Tracking Laws: Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act

January 21, 2010 Senate Passes Bill Against Harassment Of Women At Workplace The Senate passed a bill to further amend the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 against sexual harassment at the workplace, amid strong criticism from religious parties. January 22, 2010 Pakistan Clears Landmark Bill Against Workplace Harassment Overcoming […]

Tracking Laws: Anti-domestic Violence Act

February 16th 2006 Domestic Violence In Pakistan: Legislation Still Pending The proposed bill, ‘The Prevention of Domestic Violence Bill, 2005’ is meant to rectify current shortcomings in the law by recognizing domestic violence as a free-standing crime. At present the Bill has been summarily dismissed by the Speaker of the National Assembly off the agenda, […]

Pakistan: Content Filtration Over The Years

Content Filtering Timeline 2006- PTA blocks more than a 1000 websites due to SC ruling on blocking of “blasphemous” websites, however more than pornographic or offensive content websites were blocked February 2006- April 2006: Blogspot Blackout A website, www.blogspot.com, was censored, which did not receive much publicity; however the accidental ban of this website caused […]

The Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act (Criminal Law Amendment)

Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act (Criminal Law Amendment) March 2, 2005 Pakistan Rejects Pro-Women Bill Women’s rights groups want strict legislation against honour killings. The Pakistan government has allied with Islamists to reject a bill, which sought to strengthen the law against the practice of “honour killing” November 13, 2006 Islamic Opposition Against Women’s Bill During […]

Timeline: The Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act (Criminal Law Amendment)

Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act (Criminal Law Amendment) March 2, 2005 Pakistan Rejects Pro-Women Bill Women’s rights groups want strict legislation against honour killings. The Pakistan government has allied with Islamists to reject a bill, which sought to strengthen the law against the practice of “honour killing” November 13, 2006 Islamic Opposition Against Women’s Bill During […]

Tracking Laws: Acid Control and Crime Prevention Bill

Trigger Warning: The Post Contains Graphic Images. Please scroll down for timeline in text.  January 5, 2010 – Pakistan’s Acid Attack Victims Pin Hope On New Laws A growing amount of victims hope that the government passes a new legislation to control the sale of acid and increase punishment for acid attacks. The industrial-strength acid […]

Section 144: Through The Years in Pakistan

2/19/2000 Protesters Arrested: JSQM & MQM activists batton charge & arrested: At least 34 MQM and JSQM activists were baton-charged and arrested by police outside the Karachi Press Club for staging a demonstration in violation of section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code 4/11/2001 Hunger-strike not allowed, 49 held Asked about the fines and other […]

Flip Flop Switch:YouTube Blocked Unblocked – Live Updates

Timeline of updates on Youtube Block & Unblock in Pakistan: 13th september: Pakistan orders anti-Islam video block on YouTube [Associated Press]  – ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday blocked access to an anti-Islam film as security measures beefed up around US diplomatic missions, following attacks on American consulates and embassies in Libya, Egypt and Yemen. 17th september: Pakistan […]

E-regulations Timeline